Hop-count indication in wireless systems

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described that provide for hop-count indication in an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network. An IAB-node may adopt and indicate multiple values for hop-count. The hop-count may be conveyed by a number of different reference signals and channels. A resource pattern and/or a slot pattern may also be associated with the hop-count to simply signaling. By associating the patterns with the hop-count, an IAB-node may be able to infer the resource pattern used by another IAB-node.

CROSS REFERENCE

The present application for patent claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/718,289 by ABEDINI et al.,entitled “HOP-COUNT INDICATION IN WIRELESS SYSTEMS,” filed Aug. 13,2018, assigned to the assignee hereof, and expressly incorporatedherein.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The following relates generally to wireless communications, and morespecifically to hop-count indication in wireless systems.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide varioustypes of communication content such as voice, video, packet data,messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable ofsupporting communication with multiple users by sharing the availablesystem resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of suchmultiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such asLong Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, orLTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may bereferred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employtechnologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA),orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform-spread-orthogonalfrequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-accesscommunications system may include a number of base stations or networkaccess nodes (ANs), each simultaneously supporting communication formultiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as userequipment (UE).

Some wireless communications systems, such as those operating in amillimeter wave (mmW) spectrum, may include ANs to facilitate wirelesscommunication between a UE and the network. In some cases, an anchor ANmay have a high-capacity, wired, backhaul connection (e.g., fiber) tothe network, while communicating simultaneously with one or more ANs(e.g., relay devices) or UEs (which may include relay functionality insome instances). A network that supports communications between an ANand a UE may be referred to as an access network, while a network thatsupports communications between one or more ANs may be referred to as abackhaul network. In deployments supporting both access and backhaul(e.g., in an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) network), resourceallocation may be complex due to the considerations taken into accountwhen scheduling resources. In some cases, multiple ANs may share thesame physical cell identifiers (PCIDs), which may complicate thesignaling in wireless communications systems.

SUMMARY

The described techniques relate to improved methods, systems, devices,and apparatuses that support hop-count indication in wireless systems.Generally, the described techniques provide for hop-indication inwireless systems in an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) network. Insome cases, access nodes (ANs) may share the same physical cellidentifiers (PCIDs) which may complicate signaling and lead to resourceallocation issues in wireless communications systems. To reduceambiguity, an AN may adopt and indicate one or more values for ahop-count between the AN and another node (e.g., another AN, an anchorAN) in the IAB network. For example, the hop-count may be conveyed via achannel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or it may be usedin the scrambling sequence of a data channel and/or a control channel.Based on the hop-count, an access device (e.g., a user equipment (UE)),or other AN may identify resource allocation schemes or communicationpaths suitable for transmission and reception of data.

A method for wireless communications at a relay network node in awireless communications system is described. The method may includeidentifying a hop-count between the relay network node and a networknode in the wireless communications system, selecting a set oftime-frequency resources for transmission of a signal to a secondnetwork node in the wireless communications system, generating thesignal based on a generation sequence, where the signal conveys anindication of the hop-count and the indication of the hop-count is basedon the set of time-frequency resources or the generation sequence, andtransmitting the signal over the set of time-frequency resources to thesecond network node.

An apparatus for wireless communications at a relay network node in awireless communications system is described. The apparatus may include aprocessor, memory in electronic communication with the processor, andinstructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable bythe processor to cause the apparatus to identify a hop-count between therelay network node and a network node in the wireless communicationssystem, select a set of time-frequency resources for transmission of asignal to a second network node in the wireless communications system,generate the signal based on a generation sequence, where the signalconveys an indication of the hop-count and the indication of thehop-count is based on the set of time-frequency resources or thegeneration sequence, and transmit the signal over the set oftime-frequency resources to the second network node.

Another apparatus for wireless communications at a relay network node ina wireless communications system is described. The apparatus may includemeans for identifying a hop-count between the relay network node and anetwork node in the wireless communications system, selecting a set oftime-frequency resources for transmission of a signal to a secondnetwork node in the wireless communications system, generating thesignal based on a generation sequence, where the signal conveys anindication of the hop-count and the indication of the hop-count is basedon the set of time-frequency resources or the generation sequence, andtransmitting the signal over the set of time-frequency resources to thesecond network node.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wirelesscommunications at a relay network node in a wireless communicationssystem is described. The code may include instructions executable by aprocessor to identify a hop-count between the relay network node and anetwork node in the wireless communications system, select a set oftime-frequency resources for transmission of a signal to a secondnetwork node in the wireless communications system, generate the signalbased on a generation sequence, where the signal conveys an indicationof the hop-count and the indication of the hop-count is based on the setof time-frequency resources or the generation sequence, and transmit thesignal over the set of time-frequency resources to the second networknode.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, generating the signal mayinclude operations, features, means, or instructions for generating aCSI-RS, a tracking reference signal (TRS), a sounding reference signal(SRS), a control channel, a data channel, or a demodulation referencesignal (DMRS) associated with the control channel or the data channelbased on the set of time-frequency resources, where the set oftime-frequency resources conveys the indication of the hop-count.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for generating a DMRSsequence associated with a control channel or a data channel, where theDMRS sequence conveys the indication of the hop-count.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, generating the signal mayinclude operations, features, means, or instructions for generating aCSI-RS, a TRS, an SRS, a control channel, or a data channel based on thegeneration sequence, where the generation sequence conveys theindication of the hop-count.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the generation sequence maybe a scrambling sequence or a base sequence.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for determining that one ormore nodes of the wireless communications system shared a cellidentifier (ID) with the relay network node and generating a second IDbased on the cell ID and the hop-count, where the second ID may be usedas the generation sequence for generating the signal.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the second ID may begenerated based on a sibling count or a random value.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for determining, based onthe hop-count, a resource pattern or a slot structure for the relaynetwork node, a parent network node in communication with the relaynetwork node, a child network node in communication with the relaynetwork node, an access device in communication with the relay networknode, or any combination thereof.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the resource pattern or theslot structure may be determined based on a mapping rule.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the resource pattern or theslot structure may be associated with a semi-static resource allocation.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for indicating thehop-count via a second signal different from the signal.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the second signal includes asystem information block (SIB).

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the network node may be ananchor network node.

A method of wireless communications at a node in a wirelesscommunications system is described. The method may include receiving asignal from a relay network node in the wireless communications system,determining a hop-count between the relay network node and a secondnetwork node in the wireless communications system based on the receivedsignal, and communicating with the relay network node based on thehop-count.

An apparatus for wireless communications at a node in a wirelesscommunications system is described. The apparatus may include aprocessor, memory in electronic communication with the processor, andinstructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable bythe processor to cause the apparatus to receive a signal from a relaynetwork node in the wireless communications system, determine ahop-count between the relay network node and a second network node inthe wireless communications system based on the received signal, andcommunicate with the relay network node based on the hop-count.

Another apparatus for wireless communications at a node in a wirelesscommunications system is described. The apparatus may include means forreceiving a signal from a relay network node in the wirelesscommunications system, determining a hop-count between the relay networknode and a second network node in the wireless communications systembased on the received signal, and communicating with the relay networknode based on the hop-count.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wirelesscommunications at a node in a wireless communications system isdescribed. The code may include instructions executable by a processorto receive a signal from a relay network node in the wirelesscommunications system, determine a hop-count between the relay networknode and a second network node in the wireless communications systembased on the received signal, and communicate with the relay networknode based on the hop-count.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for receiving, over a setof time-frequency resources, at least one of a CSI-RS, a TRS, an SRS, acontrol channel, a data channel, or a DMRS associated with the controlchannel or the data channel and determining the hop-count based on theset of time-frequency resources.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the set of time-frequencyresources conveys an indication of the hop-count.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for receiving a DMRSsequence associated with a control channel or a data channel anddetermining the hop-count based on the DMRS sequence.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the DMRS sequence conveys anindication of the hop-count.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for receiving at least oneof a CSI-RS, a TRS, an SRS, a control channel, or a data channelassociated with a generation sequence and determining the hop-countbased on the generation sequence.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the generation sequenceincludes a scrambling sequence or a base sequence and the generationsequence conveys an indication of the hop-count.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for determining a resourcepattern or a slot structure for communication with the relay networknode based on the hop-count, where the resource pattern or the slotstructure may be determined based on a mapping rule.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for communicating with therelay network node based on the resource pattern, the slot structure, ora combination thereof.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the resource pattern or theslot structure may be associated with a semi-static resource allocation.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the signal may be a broadcastsignal and a set of time-frequency resources associated with the signalor a periodicity of the signal may indicate the hop-count.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, receiving the signal mayinclude operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving acommon channel carrying information related to multiple hop-counts anddetermining the hop-count for communication with the relay network nodebased on the common channel.

A method of wireless communications at a relay network node in awireless communications system is described. The method may includeidentifying a first communication path from the relay network node to afirst anchor network node of the wireless communications system, wherethe first communication path is associated with a first hop-count and afirst quality of service (QoS), identifying a second communication pathfrom the relay network node to a second anchor network node of thewireless communications system, where the second communication path isassociated with a second hop-count and a second QoS, and indicating atleast one of the first hop-count or the second hop-count to a childnetwork node or an access device in communication with the relay networknode.

An apparatus for wireless communications at a relay network node in awireless communications system is described. The apparatus may include aprocessor, memory in electronic communication with the processor, andinstructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable bythe processor to cause the apparatus to identify a first communicationpath from the relay network node to a first anchor network node of thewireless communications system, where the first communication path isassociated with a first hop-count and a QoS, identify a secondcommunication path from the relay network node to a second anchornetwork node of the wireless communications system, where the secondcommunication path is associated with a second hop-count and a secondQoS, and indicate at least one of the first hop-count or the secondhop-count to a child network node or an access device in communicationwith the relay network node.

Another apparatus for wireless communications at a relay network node ina wireless communications system is described. The apparatus may includemeans for identifying a first communication path from the relay networknode to a first anchor network node of the wireless communicationssystem, where the first communication path is associated with a firsthop-count and a QoS, identifying a second communication path from therelay network node to a second anchor network node of the wirelesscommunications system, where the second communication path is associatedwith a second hop-count and a second QoS, and indicating at least one ofthe first hop-count or the second hop-count to a child network node oran access device in communication with the relay network node.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wirelesscommunications at a relay network node in a wireless communicationssystem is described. The code may include instructions executable by aprocessor to identify a first communication path from the relay networknode to a first anchor network node of the wireless communicationssystem, where the first communication path is associated with a firsthop-count and a QoS, identify a second communication path from the relaynetwork node to a second anchor network node of the wirelesscommunications system, where the second communication path is associatedwith a second hop-count and a second QoS, and indicate at least one ofthe first hop-count or the second hop-count to a child network node oran access device in communication with the relay network node.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for determining the firstQoS based on the first hop-count, a network load of one or more networknodes associated with the first communication path, a backhaul linkcapacity between the one or more network nodes associated with the firstcommunication path, or a stability of the backhaul link between the oneor more network nodes associated with the first communication path, or acombination thereof and determining the second QoS based on the secondhop-count, the network load of one or more network nodes associated withthe second communication path, a backhaul link capacity between the oneor more network nodes associated with the second communication path, ora stability of the backhaul link between the one or more network nodesassociated with the second communication path, or a combination thereof.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for serving the childnetwork node in communication with the relay network node via the firstcommunication path and serving the access device in communication withthe relay network node via the second communication path.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for determining that newrequests cannot be served via the first communication path andindicating the second hop-count to the child network node or the accessdevice.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, indicating the firsthop-count may include operations, features, means, or instructions forgenerating a first signal based on a first generation sequence, wherethe first signal conveys an indication of the first hop-count and theindication of the first hop-count may be based on a first set oftime-frequency resources allocated for the first signal or the firstgeneration sequence.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for generating a secondsignal based on a second generation sequence, where the second signalconveys an indication of the second hop-count and the indication of thesecond hop-count may be based on a second set of time-frequencyresources allocated for the second signal or the second generationsequence.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the first and second signalsmay be broadcast signals transmitted over different time-frequencyresources or at different periodicities.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for generating a commonchannel carrying information related to the first and secondcommunication paths.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the information related tothe first and second communication paths includes the first and secondhop-counts.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the first hop-count and thesecond hop-count may be the same.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the first anchor network nodeand the second anchor network node may be the same.

A method for wireless communications at a control node in a wirelesscommunications system is described. The method may include determining aresource configuration for a relay network node in the wirelesscommunications system, where the resource configuration is associatedwith a set of time-frequency resources selectable, based on a hop-countbetween the relay network node and a network node in the wirelesscommunications system, for communication with the network node, andtransmitting the resource configuration to the relay network node.

An apparatus for wireless communications at a control node in a wirelesscommunications system is described. The apparatus may include aprocessor, memory in electronic communication with the processor, andinstructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable bythe processor to cause the apparatus to determine a resourceconfiguration for a relay network node in the wireless communicationssystem, where the resource configuration is associated with a set oftime-frequency resources selectable, based on a hop-count between therelay network node and a network node in the wireless communicationssystem, for communication with the network node, and transmit theresource configuration to the relay network node.

Another apparatus for wireless communications at a control node in awireless communications system is described. The apparatus may includemeans for determining a resource configuration for a relay network nodein the wireless communications system, where the resource configurationis associated with a set of time-frequency resources selectable, basedon a hop-count between the relay network node and a network node in thewireless communications system, for communication with the network node,and transmitting the resource configuration to the relay network node.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wirelesscommunications at a control node in a wireless communications system isdescribed. The code may include instructions executable by a processorto determine a resource configuration for a relay network node in thewireless communications system, where the resource configuration isassociated with a set of time-frequency resources selectable, based on ahop-count between the relay network node and a network node in thewireless communications system, for communication with the network node,and transmit the resource configuration to the relay network node.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for identifying thehop-count between the relay network node and the network node, andselecting the set of time-frequency resources based at least in part onthe hop-count.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the resource configuration isassociated with multiple sets of time-frequency resources, and one ormore of the multiple sets is selectable by the relay network node basedat least in part on the hop-count.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system thatsupports hop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system thatsupports hop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a network scheme that supportshop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate example resource allocation schemes thatsupport hop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example wireless communications system thatsupports hop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a process flow that supports hop-countindication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show block diagrams of devices that support hop-countindication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a hop-count manager that supportshop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 10 shows a diagram of a system including a user equipment (UE) thatsupports hop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows a diagram of a system including a base station thatsupports hop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 12 through 20 show flowcharts illustrating methods that supporthop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some wireless communications systems, such as those deploying NewRadio (NR) technologies, wireless backhaul links may be used to couplean access node (AN) to a network in place of high-capacity, wiredbackhaul link (e.g., fiber). For example, a first AN (e.g., relay node)in communication with a user equipment (UE), or another AN, mayestablish a backhaul link (wired or wireless) with a second AN (e.g.,anchor), which has a high-capacity, wired backhaul link to the network.In this manner, the first AN may communicate access traffic from the UE(or another AN) to the network via the second AN through a combinationof the one or more backhaul links. In some examples, a backhaul networkmay use multiple backhaul links before reaching a wired backhaul link.The first AN may be referred to as a UE-Function (UEF) with respect tothe anchor and an AN Function (ANF) with respect to the UE (or anotherAN) with which the first AN is communicating. Thus, a relay node may actas a UE for its one or more parent relays (e.g., relays that connect therelay node one hop closer to the anchor) and as a base station for itschild relays and/or UEs within its coverage area. In some examples, anwireless node in an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network mayadopt and indicate multiple values for the hop-count.

In some examples, the hop-count may be indicated through any of achannel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a data channel, acontrol channel. Additionally or alternatively, the hop-count may beindicated through other types of signaling such as a system informationblock (SIB) and may also be used in generating a signal including, butnot limited to, a CSI-RS, a data channel, and a control channel.

In some cases, multiple IAB-nodes may share the same cell identifier(ID). In such instances, the IAB-nodes may adopt a different ID or asecond ID to generate one or more signal that may have been previouslygenerated based on the cell ID. This second ID may be a function of cellID, hop-count, and other information including, but not limited to,sibling count, or even an arbitrarily chosen value.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context ofwireless communications systems. Aspects of then illustrated anddescribed with reference to a network scheme and process flows. Aspectsof the disclosure are further illustrated by and described withreference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts thatrelate to hop-count indication in wireless systems.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system 100that supports hop-count indication in wireless systems in accordancewith aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communicationssystem 100 includes base stations 105, UEs 115, and a core network 130.In some examples, the wireless communications system 100 may be a LongTerm Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, an LTE-APro network, or an NR network. In some cases, wireless communicationssystem 100 may support enhanced broadband communications, ultra-reliable(e.g., mission critical) communications, low latency communications, orcommunications with low-cost and low-complexity devices.

Base stations 105 may wirelessly communicate with UEs 115 via one ormore base station antennas. Base stations 105 described herein mayinclude or may be referred to by those skilled in the art as a basetransceiver station, a radio base station, an access point, a radiotransceiver, a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB), a next-generation Node B orgiga-NodeB (either of which may be referred to as a gNB), a Home NodeB,a Home eNodeB, or some other suitable terminology. Wirelesscommunications system 100 may include base stations 105 of differenttypes (e.g., macro or small cell base stations). The UEs 115 describedherein may be able to communicate with various types of base stations105 and network equipment including macro eNBs, small cell eNBs, gNBs,relay base stations, and the like.

Each base station 105 may be associated with a particular geographiccoverage area 110 in which communications with various UEs 115 issupported. Each base station 105 may provide communication coverage fora respective geographic coverage area 110 via communication links 125,and communication links 125 between a base station 105 and a UE 115 mayutilize one or more carriers. Communication links 125 shown in wirelesscommunications system 100 may include uplink transmissions from a UE 115to a base station 105, or downlink transmissions from a base station 105to a UE 115. Downlink transmissions may also be called forward linktransmissions while uplink transmissions may also be called reverse linktransmissions.

The geographic coverage area 110 for a base station 105 may be dividedinto sectors making up only a portion of the geographic coverage area110, and each sector may be associated with a cell. For example, eachbase station 105 may provide communication coverage for a macro cell, asmall cell, a hot spot, or other types of cells, or various combinationsthereof. In some examples, a base station 105 may be movable andtherefore provide communication coverage for a moving geographiccoverage area 110. In some examples, different geographic coverage areas110 associated with different technologies may overlap, and overlappinggeographic coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies maybe supported by the same base station 105 or by different base stations105. The wireless communications system 100 may include, for example, aheterogeneous LTE/LTE-A/LTE-A Pro or NR network in which different typesof base stations 105 provide coverage for various geographic coverageareas 110.

The term “cell” refers to a logical communication entity used forcommunication with a base station 105 (e.g., over a carrier), and may beassociated with an ID for distinguishing neighboring cells (e.g., aphysical cell ID (PCID), a virtual cell ID (VCID)) operating via thesame or a different carrier. In some examples, a carrier may supportmultiple cells, and different cells may be configured according todifferent protocol types (e.g., machine-type communication (MTC),narrowband Internet-of-Things (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband(eMBB), or others) that may provide access for different types ofdevices. In some cases, the term “cell” may refer to a portion of ageographic coverage area 110 (e.g., a sector) over which the logicalentity operates.

UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout the wireless communications system100, and each UE 115 may be stationary or mobile. A UE 115 may also bereferred to as a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, ahandheld device, or a subscriber device, or some other suitableterminology, where the “device” may also be referred to as a unit, astation, a terminal, or a client. A UE 115 may also be a personalelectronic device such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal computer. Insome examples, a UE 115 may also refer to a wireless local loop (WLL)station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything(IoE) device, or an MTC device, or the like, which may be implemented invarious articles such as appliances, vehicles, meters, or the like.

Some UEs 115, such as MTC or IoT devices, may be low cost or lowcomplexity devices, and may provide for automated communication betweenmachines (e.g., via Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication). M2Mcommunication or MTC may refer to data communication technologies thatallow devices to communicate with one another or a base station 105without human intervention. In some examples, M2M communication or MTCmay include communications from devices that integrate sensors or metersto measure or capture information and relay that information to acentral server or application program that can make use of theinformation or present the information to humans interacting with theprogram or application. Some UEs 115 may be designed to collectinformation or enable automated behavior of machines. Examples ofapplications for MTC devices include smart metering, inventorymonitoring, water level monitoring, equipment monitoring, healthcaremonitoring, wildlife monitoring, weather and geological eventmonitoring, fleet management and tracking, remote security sensing,physical access control, and transaction-based business charging.

Some UEs 115 may be configured to employ operating modes that reducepower consumption, such as half-duplex communications (e.g., a mode thatsupports one-way communication via transmission or reception, but nottransmission and reception simultaneously). In some examples half-duplexcommunications may be performed at a reduced peak rate. Other powerconservation techniques for UEs 115 include entering a power saving“deep sleep” mode when not engaging in active communications, oroperating over a limited bandwidth (e.g., according to narrowbandcommunications). In some cases, UEs 115 may be designed to supportcritical functions (e.g., mission critical functions), and a wirelesscommunications system 100 may be configured to provide ultra-reliablecommunications for these functions.

In some cases, a UE 115 may also be able to communicate directly withother UEs 115 (e.g., using a peer-to-peer (P2P) or device-to-device(D2D) protocol). One or more of a group of UEs 115 utilizing D2Dcommunications may be within the geographic coverage area 110 of a basestation 105. Other UEs 115 in such a group may be outside the geographiccoverage area 110 of a base station 105, or be otherwise unable toreceive transmissions from a base station 105. In some cases, groups ofUEs 115 communicating via D2D communications may utilize a one-to-many(1:M) system in which each UE 115 transmits to every other UE 115 in thegroup. In some cases, a base station 105 facilitates the scheduling ofresources for D2D communications. In other cases, D2D communications arecarried out between UEs 115 without the involvement of a base station105.

Base stations 105 may communicate with the core network 130 and with oneanother. For example, base stations 105 may interface with the corenetwork 130 through backhaul links 132 (e.g., via an S1, N2, N3, orother interface). Base stations 105 may communicate with one anotherover backhaul links 134 (e.g., via an X2, Xn, or other interface) eitherdirectly (e.g., directly between base stations 105) or indirectly (e.g.,via core network 130).

The core network 130 may provide user authentication, accessauthorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and otheraccess, routing, or mobility functions. The core network 130 may be anevolved packet core (EPC), which may include at least one mobilitymanagement entity (MME), at least one serving gateway (S-GW), and atleast one Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW). The MME may managenon-access stratum (e.g., control plane) functions such as mobility,authentication, and bearer management for UEs 115 served by basestations 105 associated with the EPC. User IP packets may be transferredthrough the S-GW, which itself may be connected to the P-GW. The P-GWmay provide IP address allocation as well as other functions. The P-GWmay be connected to the network operators IP services. The operators IPservices may include access to the Internet, Intranet(s), an IPMultimedia Subsystem (IMS), or a Packet-Switched (PS) Streaming Service.

At least some of the network devices, such as a base station 105, mayinclude subcomponents such as an access network entity, which may be anexample of an AN controller (ANC). Each access network entity maycommunicate with UEs 115 through a number of other access networktransmission entities, which may be referred to as a radio head, a smartradio head, or a transmission/reception point (TRP). In someconfigurations, various functions of each access network entity or basestation 105 may be distributed across various network devices (e.g.,radio heads and access network controllers) or consolidated into asingle network device (e.g., a base station 105).

Wireless communications system 100 may operate using one or morefrequency bands, typically in the range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz.Generally, the region from 300 MHz to 3 GHz is known as the ultra-highfrequency (UHF) region or decimeter band, since the wavelengths rangefrom approximately one decimeter to one meter in length. UHF waves maybe blocked or redirected by buildings and environmental features.However, the waves may penetrate structures sufficiently for a macrocell to provide service to UEs 115 located indoors. Transmission of UHFwaves may be associated with smaller antennas and shorter range (e.g.,less than 100 km) compared to transmission using the smaller frequenciesand longer waves of the high frequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF)portion of the spectrum below 300 MHz.

Wireless communications system 100 may also operate in a super highfrequency (SHF) region using frequency bands from 3 GHz to 30 GHz, alsoknown as the centimeter band. The SHF region includes bands such as the5 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands, which may be usedopportunistically by devices that can tolerate interference from otherusers.

Wireless communications system 100 may also operate in an extremely highfrequency (EHF) region of the spectrum (e.g., from 30 GHz to 300 GHz),also known as the millimeter band. In some examples, wirelesscommunications system 100 may support millimeter wave (mmW)communications between UEs 115 and base stations 105, and EHF antennasof the respective devices may be even smaller and more closely spacedthan UHF antennas. In some cases, this may facilitate use of antennaarrays within a UE 115. However, the propagation of EHF transmissionsmay be subject to even greater atmospheric attenuation and shorter rangethan SHF or UHF transmissions. Techniques disclosed herein may beemployed across transmissions that use one or more different frequencyregions, and designated use of bands across these frequency regions maydiffer by country or regulating body.

In some cases, wireless communications system 100 may utilize bothlicensed and unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands. For example,wireless communications system 100 may employ License Assisted Access(LAA), LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technologyin an unlicensed band such as the 5 GHz ISM band. When operating inunlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands, wireless devices such as basestations 105 and UEs 115 may employ listen-before-talk (LBT) proceduresto ensure a frequency channel is clear before transmitting data. In somecases, operations in unlicensed bands may be based on a CA configurationin conjunction with CCs operating in a licensed band (e.g., LAA).Operations in unlicensed spectrum may include downlink transmissions,uplink transmissions, peer-to-peer transmissions, or a combination ofthese. Duplexing in unlicensed spectrum may be based on frequencydivision duplexing (FDD), time division duplexing (TDD), or acombination of both.

In some examples, base station 105 or UE 115 may be equipped withmultiple antennas, which may be used to employ techniques such astransmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output(MIMO) communications, or beamforming. For example, wirelesscommunications system 100 may use a transmission scheme between atransmitting device (e.g., a base station 105) and a receiving device(e.g., a UE 115), where the transmitting device is equipped withmultiple antennas and the receiving devices are equipped with one ormore antennas. MIMO communications may employ multipath signalpropagation to increase the spectral efficiency by transmitting orreceiving multiple signals via different spatial layers, which may bereferred to as spatial multiplexing. The multiple signals may, forexample, be transmitted by the transmitting device via differentantennas or different combinations of antennas. Likewise, the multiplesignals may be received by the receiving device via different antennasor different combinations of antennas. Each of the multiple signals maybe referred to as a separate spatial stream and may carry bitsassociated with the same data stream (e.g., the same codeword) ordifferent data streams. Different spatial layers may be associated withdifferent antenna ports used for channel measurement and reporting. MIMOtechniques include single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) where multiple spatiallayers are transmitted to the same receiving device, and multiple-userMIMO (MU-MIMO) where multiple spatial layers are transmitted to multipledevices.

Beamforming, which may also be referred to as spatial filtering,directional transmission, or directional reception, is a signalprocessing technique that may be used at a transmitting device or areceiving device (e.g., a base station 105 or a UE 115) to shape orsteer an antenna beam (e.g., a transmit beam or receive beam) along aspatial path between the transmitting device and the receiving device.Beamforming may be achieved by combining the signals communicated viaantenna elements of an antenna array such that signals propagating atparticular orientations with respect to an antenna array experienceconstructive interference while others experience destructiveinterference. The adjustment of signals communicated via the antennaelements may include a transmitting device or a receiving deviceapplying certain amplitude and phase offsets to signals carried via eachof the antenna elements associated with the device. The adjustmentsassociated with each of the antenna elements may be defined by abeamforming weight set associated with a particular orientation (e.g.,with respect to the antenna array of the transmitting device orreceiving device, or with respect to some other orientation).

In one example, a base station 105 may use multiple antennas or antennaarrays to conduct beamforming operations for directional communicationswith a UE 115. For instance, some signals (e.g., synchronizationsignals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other controlsignals) may be transmitted by a base station 105 multiple times indifferent directions, which may include a signal being transmittedaccording to different beamforming weight sets associated with differentdirections of transmission. Transmissions in different beam directionsmay be used to identify (e.g., by the base station 105 or a receivingdevice, such as a UE 115) a beam direction for subsequent transmissionand/or reception by the base station 105. Some signals, such as datasignals associated with a particular receiving device, may betransmitted by a base station 105 in a single beam direction (e.g., adirection associated with the receiving device, such as a UE 115). Insome examples, the beam direction associated with transmissions along asingle beam direction may be determined based at least in in part on asignal that was transmitted in different beam directions. For example, aUE 115 may receive one or more of the signals transmitted by the basestation 105 in different directions, and the UE 115 may report to thebase station 105 an indication of the signal it received with a highestsignal quality, or an otherwise acceptable signal quality. Althoughthese techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted inone or more directions by a base station 105, a UE 115 may employsimilar techniques for transmitting signals multiple times in differentdirections (e.g., for identifying a beam direction for subsequenttransmission or reception by the UE 115) or transmitting a signal in asingle direction (e.g., for transmitting data to a receiving device).

A receiving device (e.g., a UE 115, which may be an example of a mmWreceiving device) may try multiple receive beams when receiving varioussignals from the base station 105, such as synchronization signals,reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals. Forexample, a receiving device may try multiple receive directions byreceiving via different antenna subarrays, by processing receivedsignals according to different antenna subarrays, by receiving accordingto different receive beamforming weight sets applied to signals receivedat a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array, or by processingreceived signals according to different receive beamforming weight setsapplied to signals received at a plurality of antenna elements of anantenna array, any of which may be referred to as “listening” accordingto different receive beams or receive directions. In some examples areceiving device may use a single receive beam to receive along a singlebeam direction (e.g., when receiving a data signal). The single receivebeam may be aligned in a beam direction determined based at least inpart on listening according to different receive beam directions (e.g.,a beam direction determined to have a highest signal strength, highestsignal-to-noise ratio, or otherwise acceptable signal quality based atleast in part on listening according to multiple beam directions).

In some cases, the antennas of a base station 105 or UE 115 may belocated within one or more antenna arrays, which may support MIMOoperations, or transmit or receive beamforming. For example, one or morebase station antennas or antenna arrays may be co-located at an antennaassembly, such as an antenna tower. In some cases, antennas or antennaarrays associated with a base station 105 may be located in diversegeographic locations. A base station 105 may have an antenna array witha number of rows and columns of antenna ports that the base station 105may use to support beamforming of communications with a UE 115.Likewise, a UE 115 may have one or more antenna arrays that may supportvarious MIMO or beamforming operations.

In some cases, wireless communications system 100 may be a packet-basednetwork that operate according to a layered protocol stack. In the userplane, communications at the bearer or Packet Data Convergence Protocol(PDCP) layer may be IP-based. A Radio Link Control (RLC) layer may insome cases perform packet segmentation and reassembly to communicateover logical channels. A Medium Access Control (MAC) layer may performpriority handling and multiplexing of logical channels into transportchannels. The MAC layer may also use hybrid automatic repeat request(HARQ) to provide retransmission at the MAC layer to improve linkefficiency. In the control plane, the Radio Resource Control (RRC)protocol layer may provide establishment, configuration, and maintenanceof an RRC connection between a UE 115 and a base station 105 or corenetwork 130 supporting radio bearers for user plane data. At thePhysical (PHY) layer, transport channels may be mapped to physicalchannels.

In some cases, UEs 115 and base stations 105 may support retransmissionsof data to increase the likelihood that data is received successfully.HARQ feedback is one technique of increasing the likelihood that data isreceived correctly over a communication link 125. HARQ may include acombination of error detection (e.g., using a cyclic redundancy check(CRC)), forward error correction (FEC), and retransmission (e.g.,automatic repeat request (ARQ)). HARQ may improve throughput at the MAClayer in poor radio conditions (e.g., signal-to-noise conditions). Insome cases, a wireless device may support same-slot HARQ feedback, wherethe device may provide HARQ feedback in a specific slot for datareceived in a previous symbol in the slot. In other cases, the devicemay provide HARQ feedback in a subsequent slot, or according to someother time interval.

Time intervals in LTE or NR may be expressed in multiples of a basictime unit, which may, for example, refer to a sampling period ofT_(s)=1/30,720,000 seconds. Time intervals of a communications resourcemay be organized according to radio frames each having a duration of 10milliseconds (ms), where the frame period may be expressed asT_(f)=307,200 T_(s). The radio frames may be identified by a systemframe number (SFN) ranging from 0 to 1023. Each frame may include 10subframes numbered from 0 to 9, and each subframe may have a duration of1 ms. A subframe may be further divided into 2 slots each having aduration of 0.5 ms, and each slot may contain 6 or 7 modulation symbolperiods (e.g., depending on the length of the cyclic prefix prepended toeach symbol period). Excluding the cyclic prefix, each symbol period maycontain 2048 sampling periods. In some cases, a subframe may be thesmallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system 100, andmay be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI). In othercases, a smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system100 may be shorter than a subframe or may be dynamically selected (e.g.,in bursts of shortened TTIs (sTTIs) or in selected component carriersusing sTTIs).

In some wireless communications systems, a slot may further be dividedinto multiple mini-slots containing one or more symbols. In someinstances, a symbol of a mini-slot or a mini-slot may be the smallestunit of scheduling. Each symbol may vary in duration depending on thesubcarrier spacing or frequency band of operation, for example. Further,some wireless communications systems may implement slot aggregation inwhich multiple slots or mini-slots are aggregated together and used forcommunication between a UE 115 and a base station 105.

The term “carrier” refers to a set of radio frequency spectrum resourceshaving a defined physical layer structure for supporting communicationsover a communication link 125. For example, a carrier of a communicationlink 125 may include a portion of a radio frequency spectrum band thatis operated according to physical layer channels for a given radioaccess technology. Each physical layer channel may carry user data,control information, or other signaling. A carrier may be associatedwith a pre-defined frequency channel (e.g., an E-UTRA absolute radiofrequency channel number (EARFCN)), and may be positioned according to achannel raster for discovery by UEs 115. Carriers may be downlink oruplink (e.g., in an FDD mode), or be configured to carry downlink anduplink communications (e.g., in a TDD mode). In some examples, signalwaveforms transmitted over a carrier may be made up of multiplesub-carriers (e.g., using multi-carrier modulation (MCM) techniques suchas orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or discrete Fouriertransform-spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM)).

The organizational structure of the carriers may be different fordifferent radio access technologies (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR,etc.). For example, communications over a carrier may be organizedaccording to TTIs or slots, each of which may include user data as wellas control information or signaling to support decoding the user data. Acarrier may also include dedicated acquisition signaling (e.g.,synchronization signals or system information, etc.) and controlsignaling that coordinates operation for the carrier. In some examples(e.g., in a carrier aggregation configuration), a carrier may also haveacquisition signaling or control signaling that coordinates operationsfor other carriers.

Physical channels may be multiplexed on a carrier according to varioustechniques. A physical control channel and a physical data channel maybe multiplexed on a downlink carrier, for example, using time divisionmultiplexing (TDM) techniques, frequency division multiplexing (FDM)techniques, or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques. In some examples, controlinformation transmitted in a physical control channel may be distributedbetween different control regions in a cascaded manner (e.g., between acommon control region or common search space and one or more UE-specificcontrol regions or UE-specific search spaces).

A carrier may be associated with a particular bandwidth of the radiofrequency spectrum, and in some examples the carrier bandwidth may bereferred to as a “system bandwidth” of the carrier or the wirelesscommunications system 100. For example, the carrier bandwidth may be oneof a number of predetermined bandwidths for carriers of a particularradio access technology (e.g., 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, or 80 MHz). Insome examples, each served UE 115 may be configured for operating overportions or all of the carrier bandwidth. In other examples, some UEs115 may be configured for operation using a narrowband protocol typethat is associated with a predefined portion or range (e.g., set ofsubcarriers or RBs) within a carrier (e.g., “in-band” deployment of anarrowband protocol type).

In a system employing MCM techniques, a resource element may consist ofone symbol period (e.g., a duration of one modulation symbol) and onesubcarrier, where the symbol period and subcarrier spacing are inverselyrelated. The number of bits carried by each resource element may dependon the modulation scheme (e.g., the order of the modulation scheme).Thus, the more resource elements that a UE 115 receives and the higherthe order of the modulation scheme, the higher the data rate may be forthe UE 115. In MIMO systems, a wireless communications resource mayrefer to a combination of a radio frequency spectrum resource, a timeresource, and a spatial resource (e.g., spatial layers), and the use ofmultiple spatial layers may further increase the data rate forcommunications with a UE 115.

Devices of the wireless communications system 100 (e.g., base stations105 or UEs 115) may have a hardware configuration that supportscommunications over a particular carrier bandwidth, or may beconfigurable to support communications over one of a set of carrierbandwidths. In some examples, the wireless communications system 100 mayinclude base stations 105 and/or UEs 115 that can support simultaneouscommunications via carriers associated with more than one differentcarrier bandwidth.

Wireless communications system 100 may support communication with a UE115 on multiple cells or carriers, a feature which may be referred to ascarrier aggregation (CA) or multi-carrier operation. A UE 115 may beconfigured with multiple downlink CCs and one or more uplink CCsaccording to a carrier aggregation configuration. Carrier aggregationmay be used with both FDD and TDD component carriers.

In some cases, wireless communications system 100 may utilize enhancedcomponent carriers (eCCs). An eCC may be characterized by one or morefeatures including wider carrier or frequency channel bandwidth, shortersymbol duration, shorter TTI duration, or modified control channelconfiguration. In some cases, an eCC may be associated with a carrieraggregation configuration or a dual connectivity configuration (e.g.,when multiple serving cells have a suboptimal or non-ideal backhaullink). An eCC may also be configured for use in unlicensed spectrum orshared spectrum (e.g., where more than one operator is allowed to usethe spectrum). An eCC characterized by wide carrier bandwidth mayinclude one or more segments that may be utilized by UEs 115 that arenot capable of monitoring the whole carrier bandwidth or are otherwiseconfigured to use a limited carrier bandwidth (e.g., to conserve power).

In some cases, an eCC may utilize a different symbol duration than otherCCs, which may include use of a reduced symbol duration as compared withsymbol durations of the other CCs. A shorter symbol duration may beassociated with increased spacing between adjacent subcarriers. Adevice, such as a UE 115 or base station 105, utilizing eCCs maytransmit wideband signals (e.g., according to frequency channel orcarrier bandwidths of 20, 40, 60, 80 MHz, etc.) at reduced symboldurations (e.g., 16.67 microseconds). A TTI in eCC may consist of one ormultiple symbol periods. In some cases, the TTI duration (that is, thenumber of symbol periods in a TTI) may be variable.

Wireless communications systems such as an NR system may utilize anycombination of licensed, shared, and unlicensed spectrum bands, amongothers. The flexibility of eCC symbol duration and subcarrier spacingmay allow for the use of eCC across multiple spectrums. In someexamples, NR shared spectrum may increase spectrum utilization andspectral efficiency, specifically through dynamic vertical (e.g., acrossthe frequency domain) and horizontal (e.g., across the time domain)sharing of resources.

The described techniques provide for hop-indication in wireless systemsin an IAB network, which may be supported by wireless communicationssystem 100. In some cases, ANs (e.g., a base station 105 or a UE 115acting as a relay) may share the same PCIDs, which may complicatesignaling in wireless communications system 100. To reduce ambiguity,the ANs may adopt and indicate multiple values for the hop-count. Forexample, the hop-count may be conveyed via a CSI-RS, or it may beconveyed via the scrambling sequence of a data channel and/or a controlchannel.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system 200that supports hop-count indication in wireless systems in accordancewith aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, wirelesscommunications system 200 may implement aspects of wirelesscommunications system 100.

In some cases, the wireless communications system 200 may be an exampleof a wireless communications network that operates in mmW spectrum, orsupports 5G NR deployments. The wireless communications system 200 mayinclude a number of ANs 205 (ANs 205-a, 205-b, 205-c, etc.) and UEs 115(UEs 115-a, 115-b, 115-c, etc.) that communicate over a combination ofwired links 220 (e.g., wired links 220-a and 220-b) and wireless links210 (210-a, 210-b, 210-c, etc.). In some cases, the wired links 220 maybe core network links, and may connect anchor ANs 205-h and 205-i to thecore network (e.g., core network 130 of FIG. 1). The ANs 205 may beexamples of the ANs 105 (e.g., relay devices, base stations 105)described in reference to FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, anchor ANs 205-h and 205-i may also be integrated accessbackhaul donors (referred to herein as IAB-donors). An IAB-donor may bea radio access network node or RAN-node that terminates a nextgeneration interface (Ng interface) with the core network. ANs 205-a,205-b, and 205-c may be integrated access backhaul nodes (referred toherein as IAB-nodes). An IAB-node may be a radio access network(RAN)-node that may provide IAB functionality with two roles. The firstrole of the IAB-node may be an ANF. The ANF may schedule UEs and otherIAB-nodes that may be connected to the IAB-nodes as child nodes. The ANFmay control both access links and backhaul links under the correspondingcoverage of the IAB-node. The second role of the IAB-node may be a UEFwhich may involve a backhaul link. The UEF may be controlled andscheduled by an IAB-donor or another IAB-node as its parent node. TheUEF and the ANF are included in ANs 205-a, 205-b, 205-c, and so forth.The UEF is depicted in the wireless communications system 200 by across-hatched pattern and the ANF is depicted in the wirelesscommunications system 200 by a striped pattern.

In the wireless communications system 200, the distance or number oflinks between an IAB-donor and an IAB-node may be indicated by ahop-count. In one topology of a wireless communications system, theremay only be a single path from each of the IAB-nodes to the IAB-donor.In this example, the IAB topology is a spanning tree. In othertopologies and as illustrated in the wireless communications system 200,an IAB-node may have multiple paths to one or multiple IAB-donors. Inthis topology of multiple paths, the hop-count may be defined as the“shortest” distance or fewest links to an IAB-donor.

For example, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, AN 205-d or IAB-node 205-d,has multiple paths to anchor AN 205-h or IAB-donor 205-h and each of thepaths has a hop-count of two. The first path for AN 205-d has a firstlink to AN 205-b and a second link from AN 205-b to anchor AN 205-h. Thesecond path for AN 205-d has a first link to AN 205-a and a second linkto anchor AN 205-h. Alternatively, the hop-count may indicate thedistance or links to a reference node such as a synchronization source,which may not be an anchor AN 205-h or 205-i.

In some cases, a node of wireless communications system 200 may adoptand indicate one or more values for the hop-count as discussed herein.In one example, the hop-count may be indicated through any of a CSI-RS,a data channel, a control channel. Although indicating the hop-count inthese ways may reduce signaling overhead, it may also entail blinddetection of hop-count which may be more difficult in dynamic scenariosin which the hop-count may change.

In yet another example, the hop-count may be indicated through othertypes of signaling such as a SIB. Additionally or alternatively, thehop-count may be used in generating a signal including, but not limitedto, a CSI-RS, a data channel, or a control channel.

Further, the hop-count may be indicated by a signal and the indicationof the hop-count may be based at least in part on a set oftime-frequency resources used for transmission of the signal or ageneration sequence used for generating the signal. In this example, ahop-count may be identified between a relay network node and a networknode in the wireless communications system 200. The relay network nodemay be an IAB-donor such as AN 205-h, and the network node may be anIAB-node such as AN 205-b. As previously discussed, IAB-nodes may be ANs205 or UEs 115. A set of time-frequency resources may be selected fortransmission of a signal to a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system 200. The second network node may be an IAB-node orAN 205-d.

Further, the signal generated using a generation sequence that indicatesa hop-count may be a CSI-RS, a tracking reference signal (TRS), asounding reference signal (SRS), a control channel, a data channel, or ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) associated with the control channelor the data channel. In some cases, the set of time-frequency resourcesused for transmitting the signal conveys the indication of thehop-count.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a network scheme of a wirelesscommunications system 300 that supports hop-count indication in wirelesssystems in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In someexamples, network scheme of wireless communications system 300 mayimplement aspects of wireless communications systems 100 or 200.

Network scheme of wireless communications system 300 may includemultiple ANs 305 and UEs 330 communicating with each other over a one ormore wireless links (e.g., backhaul and/or access links). Each backhaulnode (i.e., a node in communication with another node via a backhaullink) may support multiple ANFs, UEFs, or any combination thereof. Forexample, AN 305-a may be coupled with wireline backhaul link 310-a toprovide interfaces to a wireline network. As shown in network scheme ofwireless communications system 300, ANs 305-b, 305-c, 305-d, 305-e,305-f, 305-g, and 305-h may be transmission reception points and maysupport both ANF and UEF functionalities (and therefore may act as relaydevices), such as transmitting and receiving data over respective linksand UEs 330-a, 330-b, and 330-b may be UEs which may only support UEFfunctionality.

Wireless communications system 300 may include an anchor AN 305-a thatis coupled with wired backhaul link 310-a to provide interfaces to awireline network for a system. Further, backhaul and/or access linksconnect anchor AN 305-a to one or more UEs 330 (e.g., UEs 330-a) and ANs305, which may relay information or be further connected to additionalUEs 330 and ANs 305 over additional backhaul and/or access links (e.g.,according to network scheme of wireless communications system 300 ofFIG. 3). The backhaul and/or access links may include wireless links.Each AN 305 may support an ANF and UEF.

In some cases, anchor AN 305-a may be connected to a first set of nodesover links 315 (e.g., 315-a, 315-b, 315-c, etc.). For example, anchor AN305-a, which may also be an IAB-donor, may communicate with an AN 305-bover link 315-a. Anchor AN 305-a may further be connected to otherIAB-nodes, which may be any combination of ANs 305 and UEs 330 over link315-a. For example, anchor AN 305-a may communicate with an IAB-node,which may be UE 330-a over link 315-a, and also a second IAB-node, whichmay be AN 305-c over link 315-a. Additionally, IAB-donor or anchor AN305-a may be connected to an IAB-node or AN 305-c over link 315-a.

As shown, AN 305-b may be connected to AN 305-d, AN 305-e and UE 330-b,all of which may be IAB-nodes and these IAB-nodes may be connected to AN305-b over link 325-a. AN-305-c may be connected to AN 305-f over link325-a. Similar to AN 305-b, AN 305-e may be connected to UE 330-c, AN305-g, and AN 305-h over link 315-a.

The nodes of wireless communications system 300 may be partitioned intotwo node sets such that each node belongs to a different node set thanits parent nodes and its child nodes. For example, AN 305-b, AN-305-c,AN 305-g, and 305-h may be grouped in a first node set, while 305-d, AN305-e, and AN 305-f may be grouped in a second node set. Similarly, aset of resources may be partitioned into two sets such that eachresource set is assigned to one of the node sets. For example, the setof resources may be partitioned into two sets for downlink, uplink,and/or flexible segments, for example, time-frequency resources.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate example resource allocation schemes 400 thatsupport hop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance withvarious aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, resourceallocation scheme 400 may be implemented by aspects of wirelesscommunications system 100, 200, and/or 300. One or more of resourceallocation schemes 400 may be determined and based at least in part onthe hop-count.

In FIG. 4A, resource allocation scheme 400 may associate a resourcepattern and/or a slot structure to the hop-count which may simplify thesignaling of resources to be used by ANs or UEs in an IAB network. Forexample, an IAB-node may infer the resource pattern that may beallocated to itself or used by another node based on the hop-count and amapping rule.

In one example, semi-static resource allocation may be a function ofhop-count. In the example of FIG. 4A, there may be a two pattern schemefor semi-static resource allocation. In this two pattern scheme, oddhop-counts may be solid line resources and even hop counts may be dottedline resources. In FIG. 4A, the first downlink/uplink resources (e.g.,downlink/uplink resources 405) is a solid line resource and may beassociated with an odd hop-count. An IAB-node may be able to infer thatits parent node is allocated downlink/uplink resources 405 based on ahop-count indicated by the parent node. Additionally or alternatively,the IAB-node may infer the resources allocated for itself based onknowing the hop-count indicated by its parent node. For instance, theIAB-node may be allocated downlink/uplink resources 410 based on thehop-count indicated by its parent network node.

Downlink/uplink resources 410 is a dotted line resource and may beassociated with an even hop-count. In some examples, an IAB-node may beable to determine that its parent network node is associated withdownlink/uplink resources 410 if its parent network node indicates aneven hop-count. Further, the IAB-node may be able to determine resourcesallocated for itself based on knowing the hop-count indicated by itsparent node. For instance, the IAB-node may be allocated downlink-uplinkresources 405 based on the hop-count indicated by its parent node.

In FIG. 4B, resource allocation scheme 400-b may associate a slotstructure with the hop-count which may simplify the signaling ofresources allocated to one or more IAB-nodes in an IAB network. In someexamples, the slot structure or slot format may be a function ofhop-count. The slot format may indicate more details such as, but notlimited to, a number of downlink, uplink, and flexible symbols and thecorresponding arrangement within a slot, the periodicity of theconfiguration, and so forth.

In some cases, in resource allocation scheme 400-b, the uplink anddownlink directions may be aligned across multiple hops in a wirelesscommunications system. For instance, there may be a two pattern schemefor the slot structure. In this two pattern scheme, odd hop-counts maybe solid line resources and even hop counts may be dotted lineresources. In FIG. 4B, the first set of links 420 may be a solid lineresource and may be associated with an odd hop-count and the second setof links 425 may be a dotted line resource and may be associated with aneven hop-count.

As shown, the uplink and downlink directions may alternate in time andacross hops. In this example, the downlink resources 430 may beassociated with a first set of IAB-nodes or communication links and maycorrespond to an odd hop-count. Uplink resources 435 may be associatedwith a second set of IAB-nodes or communication links and may correspondto an even hop-count. Referring to FIG. 3, for instance, thecommunication links 315-a may be the associated with the first set oflinks 420 and may be indicative of an odd hop-count and thecommunication links 325-a may be associated with the second set of link425 and may be indicative of an even hop-count.

As shown, uplink and downlink directions may alternate for each of thefirst and second set of links 420 and 425. For instance, the second setof resources are uplink resources 440 in the first set of links 420 andthe second set resources are downlink resources 445 in the second set oflinks 425.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system 500that supports hop-count indication in wireless systems in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples,wireless communications system 500 may implement aspects of wirelesscommunications systems 100, 200, and/or 300, and may be an example of awireless communications network that operates in mmW spectrum. Thewireless communications system 500 may include multiple IAB-donors(e.g., anchor ANs 505-a and 505-b) and IAB-nodes (e.g., ANs 505 and UEs530) that communicate over a combination of wired and wireless links.These IAB-nodes 505 may be examples of the IAB-nodes as described withreference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

The wireless communications system 500 may include a number of ANs 505(ANs 505-a, 505-b, 505-c, etc.) and UEs 530 (UEs 530-a and 530-b) thatcommunicate over a combination of wired links 510 (e.g., wired links510-a and 510-b) and wireless links 515-a. In some cases, the wiredlinks 510 may be core network links, and may connect anchor ANs 505-aand 505-b to the core network (e.g., core network 130 of FIG. 1). TheANs 205 may be examples of the ANs described herein.

In some examples, a wireless communications system may take intoconsideration child-specific hop-counts. In this example of FIG. 5, AN505-e has multiple backhaul links and may have two paths (e.g., a firstpath 550 and a second path 560) to the core network, via the same ordifferent anchor ANs 505-a or 505-b. In FIG. 5, the first path 550 mayflow from AN 505-e to AN 505-c, and then to the anchor AN 505-a. Thesecond path 560 may flow from AN 505-e to AN 505-g to AN 505-d, and thento anchor AN 505-b.

In one example, of FIG. 5, the quality of service (QoS) over the twopaths 550 and 560 may be different. For example, the quality of serviceon one of the paths may experience end-to-end (E2E) propagation delayper the number of hops, in which E2E propagation delay may refer to thetime taken for a packet to be transmitted across a network from a sourceto a destination. Additionally, the QoS on the paths may also beaffected by the load on intermediate nodes and on the quality of thebackhaul links, in which the quality of the backhaul links may beaffected by the capacity and/or the stability of the backhaul links.

In some cases, the flow of AN 505-e may be partitioned based on its QoSrequirements and the flow may be assigned to different routes within thewireless communications system 500. For example, AN 505-e may serve UEssuch as UE 530-b through the first path 550 and serve the childIAB-nodes (AN 505-h and 505-i) through the second path 550. Further, theAN 505-e may indicate different hop-count values to its different childnodes based on which backhaul path it may use to transport thecorresponding traffic.

In one example, when serving a flow on first path 550, the AN 505-e mayadopt and indicate a hop-count of 2. This hop-count may be used togenerate a CSI-RS, a data channel, and/or a control channel, or anycombination thereof for devices being served via the first path 550.Additionally, when serving a flow on path 550, the AN 505-e may not beable to accept new requests to be served through path 550, as such theAN 505-e may indicate its hop-count corresponding to the second path 560in which the hop-count may be 3.

In another example, the hop-count may be indicated in some broadcastsignals, such as a signal used for inter-relay discovery and/or in aSIB. In this example, the AN 305-e or IAB-node a may send multiple setsof broadcast signals for various hop-counts, in which the signals usedin the different sets of broadcast signals may be different, theoccupied time domain and frequency domain (TD/FD) resources may bedifferent, and the periodicity of transmission may be different.

When using broadcast channels such as remaining minimum systeminformation (RMSI) and/or SIBs, AN 505-e may either send a commonchannel which may carry information about multiple backhaul routesand/or hop-counts, or the AN 505-e may send separate channels such as onseparate resources with different periodicities.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a process flow 600 that supportshop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure. In some examples, process flow 600 may implementaspects of wireless communications systems 100, 200, and 300 and/orscheme 400. The process flow 600 may include multiple IAB-donors (e.g.,ANs) and IAB-nodes (e.g., ANs and UEs) that communicate over acombination of wired and wireless links in process flow 600. Networknode 605 may be denoted as an anchor AN 605 (or other network node usedfor a hop-count (e.g., a synchronization node)), while network node 610may be a relay network node (e.g., an AN, a UE that supports ANF, or anyother node capable of being a parent network node to network node 615)and network node 615 may be a child network node or an access device(e.g., a UE that does not support ANF).

In the following description of the process flow 600, the operationsbetween network node 605, relay node 610, and child network node 615 maycorrespond to uplink or downlink signaling over wireless backhaul linksand/or wireless access links. Signaling between network node 605, relaynode 610, and child network node 615 may be direct, or indirect.

At 620, relay node 610 may identify a hop-count between the relaynetwork node 610 and the network node 605. In some examples, thedistance or number of links between the relay network node 610 and thenetwork node 605 may be a single path. In other topologies (e.g., asillustrated in the wireless communications system 500 of FIG. 5), anetwork node may have multiple paths to one or more anchor nodes orother network nodes in the system. In such a topology, the hop-count maybe defined as the “shortest” distance or fewest number of links to ananchor node or other network node.

At 630, a set of time-frequency resources for transmission of a signalto a second network node 615 may be selected. In some examples, thetime-frequency resources may be selected based on the hop-count. Forinstance, certain sets of resources may be used when indicating aparticular hop-count value.

At 640, a signal may be generated based at least in part on a generationsequence. The signal may convey an indication of the hop-countidentified at 620. In some cases, the indication of the hop-count may bebased at least in part on the set of time-frequency resources selectedat 630 or the generation sequence itself. For instance, the generationsequence may be a scrambling sequence that conveys the hop-count and thescrambling sequence may be used for scrambling the data or controlchannel. In other examples, a DMRS associated with a data or controlchannel may be scrambled or generated using a generation sequence thatconveys the hop-count. The hop-count may be indicated through any of aCSI-RS, a data channel, a control channel. In another example, thehop-count may be indicated through other types of signaling such as aSIB and may also be used in generating a signal including, but notlimited to, a CSI-RS, a data channel, and a control channel.

At 650, the signal generated at 640 may be transmitted over the set oftime-frequency resources to the child network node 615. Based on thehop-count, the child network node 615 may communicate (e.g.,communications 675) with the relay network node 610 or the anchornetwork node 605 (e.g., via a communication path associated with thehop-count or via resources allocated based on the hop-count).

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram 700 of a device 705 that supports hop-countindication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. The device 705 may be an example of aspects of a relaynetwork node (e.g., a UE 115 or base station 105), a child network node,or an access device as described herein. The device 705 may include areceiver 710, a hop-count manager 715, and a transmitter 720. The device705 may also include a processor. Each of these components may be incommunication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

Receiver 710 may receive information such as packets, user data, orcontrol information associated with various information channels (e.g.,control channels, data channels, and information related to hop-countindication in wireless systems, etc.). Information may be passed on toother components of the device 705. The receiver 710 may be an exampleof aspects of the transceiver 1020 or 1120 as described with referenceto FIGS. 10 and 11. The receiver 710 may utilize a single antenna or aset of antennas.

When operating as a relay network node, the hop-count manager 715 mayidentify a hop-count between the relay network node and a network nodein the wireless communications system, select a set of time-frequencyresources for transmission of a signal to a second network node in thewireless communications system, generate the signal based on ageneration sequence, where the signal conveys an indication of thehop-count and the indication of the hop-count is based on the set oftime-frequency resources or the generation sequence, and transmit thesignal over the set of time-frequency resources to the second networknode. Additionally or alternatively, the hop-count manager 715 mayidentify a hop-count between the relay network node and a network nodein the wireless communications system, select, based on the hop count, aset of time-frequency resources for transmission of a signal to a secondnetwork node in the wireless communications system, and transmit thesignal over the set of time-frequency resources to the second networknode. Additionally or alternatively, the hop-count manager 715 mayreceive a resource configuration from a control node, and select the setof time-frequency resources based on the resource configuration.

The hop-count manager 715 may also identify a first communication pathfrom the relay network node to a first anchor network node of thewireless communications system, where the first communication path isassociated with a first hop-count and a first QoS, identify a secondcommunication path from the relay network node to a second anchornetwork node of the wireless communications system, where the secondcommunication path is associated with a second hop-count and a secondQoS, and indicate at least one of the first hop-count or the secondhop-count to a child network node or an access device in communicationwith the relay network node. Additionally or alternatively, thehop-count manager 715 may identify a first communication path from therelay network node to a first anchor network node of the wirelesscommunications system, where the first communication path is associatedwith a first hop-count and a first QoS, identify a second communicationpath from the relay network node to a second anchor network node of thewireless communications system, where the second communication path isassociated with a second hop-count and a second QoS, and transmit asignal to a child network node or an access device in communication withthe relay network node, where the signal conveys an indication of atleast one of the first hop-count or the second hop-count. The hop-countmanager 715 may be an example of aspects of the hop-count manager 1010or 1110 as described herein.

When operating as a control node (e.g., a control node in an IABsystem), the hop-count manager 715 may identify a hop-count between arelay network node and a network node in the wireless communicationssystem, select, based on the hop count, a set of time-frequencyresources for transmission of a signal to a second network node in thewireless communications system, and transmit a resource configurationassociated with the set of time-frequency resources to the secondnetwork node.

When operating as a control node (e.g., a control node in an IABsystem), the hop-count manager 715 may determine a resourceconfiguration for a relay network node in the wireless communicationssystem, where the resource configuration is associated with a set oftime-frequency resources selectable, based on a hop-count between therelay network node and a network node in the wireless communicationssystem, for communication with the network node, and transmit theresource configuration to the relay network node. The hop-count manager715 may identify the hop-count between the relay network node and thenetwork node, and select the set of time-frequency resources based onthe hop-count. The resource configuration may be associated withmultiple sets of time-frequency resources, and one or more of themultiple sets may be selectable by the relay network node based on thehop-count.

When operating as a child network node or access device, the hop-countmanager 715 may receive a signal from a relay network node in thewireless communications system, determine a hop-count between the relaynetwork node and a second network node in the wireless communicationssystem based on the received signal, and communicate with the relaynetwork node based on the hop-count.

When operating as a network node (e.g., a child network node or accessdevice, or a first network node in an IAB system), the hop-count manager715 may receive a signal from a relay network node in the wirelesscommunications system, the signal indicative of a hop-count between therelay network node and a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system, determine the hop-count between the relay networknode and the second network node based on the received signal, andcommunicate with the relay network node or a child network node based onthe hop-count. The hop-count manager 715 may receive a signal from arelay network node in the wireless communications system, the signalindicative of a hop-count between the relay network node and a secondnetwork node in the wireless communications system, determine a set oftime-frequency resources for communication with the relay network nodeor a child network node based on the hop-count, and communicate with therelay network node or the child network node based on the set oftime-frequency resources. Additionally or alternatively, the hop-countmanager 715 may receive a signal from a relay network node in thewireless communications system, the signal indicative of a firsthop-count associated with a first communication path and a first QoS ora second hop-count associated with a second communication path and asecond QoS, and communicate with the relay network node or a childnetwork node via the first communication path or the secondcommunication path based on the signal.

The hop-count manager 715, or its sub-components, may be implemented inhardware, code (e.g., software or firmware) executed by a processor, orany combination thereof. If implemented in code executed by a processor,the functions of the hop-count manager 715, or its sub-components may beexecuted by a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor(DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described in thepresent disclosure.

The hop-count manager 715, or its sub-components, may be physicallylocated at various positions, including being distributed such thatportions of functions are implemented at different physical locations byone or more physical components. In some examples, the hop-count manager715, or its sub-components, may be a separate and distinct component inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In someexamples, the hop-count manager 715, or its sub-components, may becombined with one or more other hardware components, including but notlimited to an input/output (I/O) component, a transceiver, a networkserver, another computing device, one or more other components describedin the present disclosure, or a combination thereof in accordance withvarious aspects of the present disclosure.

The actions performed by the hop-count manager 715 as described hereinmay be implemented to realize one or more potential advantages. Oneimplementation may allow a UE 115 to identify a hop-count betweennetwork nodes (e.g., relay network nodes, network nodes, child networknodes) in a wireless communications system. A UE 115 may utilizehop-counts to efficiently identify or convey resource allocation schemesor communication paths suitable for transmission and reception of data,resulting in an efficient use of system resources, power savings, andincreased performance.

Transmitter 720 may transmit signals generated by other components ofthe device 705. In some examples, the transmitter 720 may be collocatedwith a receiver 710 in a transceiver module. For example, thetransmitter 720 may be an example of aspects of the transceiver 1020 or1120 as described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. The transmitter 720may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram 800 of a device 805 that supports hop-countindication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. The device 805 may be an example of aspects of a device 705,relay network node (e.g., a UE 115 or base station 105), a child networknode, or an access device as described herein. The device 805 mayinclude a receiver 810, a hop-count manager 815, and a transmitter 860.The device 805 may also include a processor. Each of these componentsmay be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

Receiver 810 may receive information such as packets, user data, orcontrol information associated with various information channels (e.g.,control channels, data channels, and information related to hop-countindication in wireless systems, etc.). Information may be passed on toother components of the device 805. The receiver 810 may be an exampleof aspects of the transceiver 1020 or 1120 as described with referenceto FIGS. 10 and 11. The receiver 810 may utilize a single antenna or aset of antennas.

The hop-count manager 815 may be an example of aspects of the hop-countmanager 715 as described herein. The hop-count manager 815 may include ahop-count identifier 820, a resource manager 825, a signal generator830, a transmission component 835, a reception component 840, acommunication component 845, a communication path manager 850, and anindication component 855. The hop-count manager 815 may be an example ofaspects of the hop-count manager 1010 or 1110 as described herein.

When operating as a relay network node, the hop-count identifier 820 mayidentify a hop-count between the relay network node and a network nodein the wireless communications system. The resource manager 825 mayselect a set of time-frequency resources for transmission of a signal toa second network node in the wireless communications system. Theresource manager 825 may select the set of time-frequency resources, forexample, based on the hop-count. The signal generator 830 may generatethe signal based on a generation sequence, where the signal conveys anindication of the hop-count and the indication of the hop-count is basedon the set of time-frequency resources or the generation sequence. Thetransmission component 835 may transmit the signal over the set oftime-frequency resources to the second network node. Additionally oralternatively, the resource manager 825 may receive a resourceconfiguration from a control node, and select the set of time-frequencyresources based on the resource configuration.

When operating as a control node (e.g., a control node in an IABsystem), the hop-count identifier 820 may identify a hop-count between arelay network node and a network node in the wireless communicationssystem. The resource manager 825 may select, based on the hop count, aset of time-frequency resources for transmission of a signal to a secondnetwork node in the wireless communications system. The transmissioncomponent 835 may transmit a resource configuration associated with theset of time-frequency resources to the second network node.

When operating as a control node (e.g., a control node in an IABsystem), the resource manager 825 may determine a resource configurationfor a relay network node in the wireless communications system, wherethe resource configuration is associated with a set of time-frequencyresources selectable, based on a hop-count between the relay networknode and a network node in the wireless communications system, forcommunication with the network node. The transmission component 835 maytransmit the resource configuration to the relay network node. Thehop-count identifier 820 may identify the hop-count between the relaynetwork node and the network node, and the resource manager 825 mayselect the set of time-frequency resources based on the hop-count. Theresource configuration may be associated with multiple sets oftime-frequency resources, and one or more of the multiple sets may beselectable by the relay network node based on the hop-count.

When operating as a child network node or access device, the receptioncomponent 840 may receive a signal from a relay network node in thewireless communications system. The hop-count identifier 820 maydetermine a hop-count between the relay network node and a secondnetwork node in the wireless communications system based on the receivedsignal. The communication component 845 may communicate with the relaynetwork node based on the hop-count.

When operating as a network node (e.g., a child network node or accessdevice, or a first network node in an IAB system), the receptioncomponent 840 may receive a signal from a relay network node in thewireless communications system, the signal indicative of a hop-countbetween the relay network node and a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system. The hop-count identifier 820 may determine thehop-count between the relay network node and the second network nodebased on the received signal, and the communication component 845 maycommunicate with the relay network node or a child network node based onthe hop-count.

Additionally or alternatively, the reception component 840 may receive asignal from a relay network node in the wireless communications system,the signal indicative of a hop-count between the relay network node anda second network node in the wireless communications system, theresource manager 825 may determine a set of time-frequency resources forcommunication with the relay network node or a child network node basedon the hop-count, and the communication component 845 may communicatewith the relay network node or the child network node based at least inpart on the set of time-frequency resources.

Additionally or alternatively, the reception component 840 may receive asignal from a relay network node in the wireless communications system,the signal indicative of a first hop-count associated with a firstcommunication path and a first QoS or a second hop-count associated witha second communication path and a second QoS, and the communicationcomponent 845 may communicate with the relay network node or a childnetwork node via the first communication path or the secondcommunication path based on the signal.

When operating as a relay network node, the communication path manager850 may identify a first communication path from the relay network nodeto a first anchor network node of the wireless communications system,where the first communication path is associated with a first hop-countand a first QoS and identify a second communication path from the relaynetwork node to a second anchor network node of the wirelesscommunications system, where the second communication path is associatedwith a second hop-count and a second QoS. The indication component 855may indicate at least one of the first hop-count or the second hop-countto a child network node or an access device in communication with therelay network node. The transmission component 835 may transmit a signalto a child network node or an access device in communication with therelay network node, where the signal conveys an indication of at leastone of the first hop-count or the second hop-count.

Transmitter 860 may transmit signals generated by other components ofthe device 805. In some examples, the transmitter 860 may be collocatedwith a receiver 810 in a transceiver module. For example, thetransmitter 860 may be an example of aspects of the transceiver 1020 or1120 as described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. The transmitter 860may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram 900 of a hop-count manager 905 thatsupports hop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure. The hop-count manager 905 may be anexample of aspects of a hop-count manager 715, a hop-count manager 815,or a hop-count manager 1010 described herein. The hop-count manager 905may include a hop-count identifier 910, a resource manager 915, a signalgenerator 920, a transmission component 925, an ID component 930, areception component 935, a communication component 940, a communicationpath manager 945, an indication component 950, a QoS component 955, anda service component 960. Each of these modules may communicate, directlyor indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The hop-count identifier 910 may identify a hop-count between the relaynetwork node and a network node in the wireless communications system.In some examples, the hop-count identifier 910 may determine a hop-countbetween the relay network node and a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system based on the received signal. In some cases, thehop-count identifier 910 may determine the hop-count based on the set oftime-frequency resources. In some aspects, the hop-count identifier 910may determine the hop-count based on the DMRS sequence. In someinstances, the hop-count identifier 910 may determine the hop-countbased on the generation sequence.

In some examples, the hop-count identifier 910 may determine thehop-count for communication with the relay network node or a childnetwork node based on the common channel. In some cases, the networknode is an anchor network node. In some aspects, the set oftime-frequency resources conveys an indication of the hop-count. In someinstances, the generation sequence includes a scrambling sequence or abase sequence. In some examples, the generation sequence conveys anindication of the hop-count.

The resource manager 915 may select a set of time-frequency resourcesfor transmission of a signal to a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system. In some examples, the resource manager 915 mayselect, based on the hop-count, the set of time-frequency resources. Insome examples, the resource manager 915 may determine, based on thehop-count, a resource pattern or a slot structure for the relay networknode, downlink resources for the relay network node, uplink resourcesfor the relay network node, a parent network node in communication withthe relay network node, a child network node in communication with therelay network node, an access device in communication with the relaynetwork node, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the resourcemanager 915 may determine a resource pattern or a slot structure forcommunication with the relay network node based on the hop-count, wherethe resource pattern or the slot structure is determined based on amapping rule. Additionally or alternatively, the resource manager 915may select a set of time-frequency resources based on a resourceconfiguration.

The resource manager 915 may determine a resource configuration for arelay network node in the wireless communications system, where theresource configuration is associated with a set of time-frequencyresources selectable, based on a hop-count between the relay networknode and a network node in the wireless communications system, forcommunication with the network node. The resource manager 915 may selectthe set of time-frequency resources based on the hop-count between therelay network node and the network node. The resource configuration maybe associated with multiple sets of time-frequency resources, and one ormore of the multiple sets may be selectable by the relay network nodebased on the hop-count.

In some aspects, the resource pattern or the slot structure isdetermined based on a mapping rule. In some instances, the resourcepattern or the slot structure is associated with a semi-static resourceallocation. In some examples, the resource pattern or the slot structureis associated with a semi-static resource allocation.

The signal generator 920 may generate the signal based on a generationsequence, where the signal conveys an indication of the hop-count andthe indication of the hop-count is based on the set of time-frequencyresources or the generation sequence. In some examples, the signalgenerator 920 may generate a CSI-RS, a TRS, an SRS, a control channel, adata channel, or a DMRS associated with the control channel or the datachannel based on the set of time-frequency resources, where the set oftime-frequency resources conveys the indication of the hop-count. Insome cases, the signal generator 920 may generate a DMRS sequenceassociated with a control channel or a data channel, where the DMRSsequence conveys the indication of the hop-count. In some aspects, thesignal generator 920 may generate a CSI-RS, a TRS, an SRS, a controlchannel, or a data channel based on the generation sequence, where thegeneration sequence conveys the indication of the hop-count. In somecases, the generation sequence is a scrambling sequence or a basesequence.

The transmission component 925 may transmit the signal over the set oftime-frequency resources to the second network node. In some examples,the transmission component 925 may indicate the hop-count via a secondsignal different from the signal. In some cases, the second signalincludes a SIB. In some examples, the transmission component 925 maytransmit a signal to a child network node or an access device incommunication with the relay network node, where the signal conveys anindication of at least one of a first hop-count or a second hop-count.The transmission component 925 may transmit a first signal to the childnetwork or the access device, where the first signal is generated basedon a first generation sequence and conveys an indication of the firsthop-count, and the indication of the first hop-count is based on a firstset of time-frequency resources allocated for the first signal or thefirst generation sequence. In some aspects, the transmission component925 may transmit a second signal to the child network or the accessdevice, where the second signal is generated based on a secondgeneration sequence and conveys an indication of the second hop-count,and the indication of the second hop-count is based on a second set oftime-frequency resources allocated for the second signal or the secondgeneration sequence. In some aspects, the transmission component 835 maytransmit a resource configuration (e.g., a resource configurationdetermined by the resource manager 915) to the relay network node.

The reception component 935 may receive a signal from a relay networknode in the wireless communications system. The signal may beindicative, for example, of a hop-count between the relay network nodeand a second network node in the wireless communications system. In someexamples, the signal may be indicative of a first hop-count associatedwith a first communication path and a first QoS or a second hop-countassociated with a second communication path and a second QoS. In someexamples, the reception component 935 may receive, over a set oftime-frequency resources, at least one of a CSI-RS, a TRS, an SRS, acontrol channel, a data channel, or a DMRS associated with the controlchannel or the data channel. In some cases, the reception component 935may receive a DMRS sequence associated with a control channel or a datachannel. In some aspects, the reception component 935 may receive atleast one of a CSI-RS, a TRS, an SRS, a control channel, or a datachannel associated with a generation sequence. In some instances, thereception component 935 may receive a common channel carryinginformation related to multiple hop-counts. Additionally oralternatively, the reception component 935 may receive a resourceconfiguration from a control node.

In some cases, the DMRS sequence conveys an indication of the hop-count.In some examples, the signal is a broadcast signal. In some aspects, aset of time-frequency resources associated with the signal or aperiodicity of the signal indicates the hop-count.

The communication component 940 may communicate with the relay networknode or a child network node based on the hop-count. In some examples,the communication component 940 may communicate with the relay networknode or a child network node based on the set of time-frequencyresources. The communication component 940 may communicate with therelay network node or a child network node via the first communicationpath or the second communication path based on the signal (e.g., signalindicative of hop-count). In some examples, the communication component940 may communicate with the relay network node or a child network nodebased on the resource pattern, the slot structure, or a combinationthereof.

The communication path manager 945 may identify a first communicationpath from the relay network node to a first anchor network node of thewireless communications system, where the first communication path isassociated with a first hop-count and a first QoS. In some examples, thecommunication path manager 945 may identify a second communication pathfrom the relay network node to a second anchor network node of thewireless communications system, where the second communication path isassociated with a second hop-count and a second QoS. In some cases, thefirst hop-count and the second hop-count are the same. In some aspects,the first anchor network node and the second anchor network node are thesame.

The indication component 950 may indicate at least one of the firsthop-count or the second hop-count to a child network node or an accessdevice in communication with the relay network node. In some examples,the indication component 950 may indicate the second hop-count to thechild network node or the access device. In some cases, the indicationcomponent 950 may generate a first signal based on a first generationsequence, where the first signal conveys an indication of the firsthop-count and the indication of the first hop-count is based on a firstset of time-frequency resources allocated for the first signal or thefirst generation sequence. In some aspects, the indication component 950may generate a second signal based on a second generation sequence,where the second signal conveys an indication of the second hop-countand the indication of the second hop-count is based on a second set oftime-frequency resources allocated for the second signal or the secondgeneration sequence. In some instances, the indication component 950 maygenerate a common channel carrying information related to the first andsecond communication paths.

In some examples, the first and second signals are broadcast signalstransmitted over different time-frequency resources or at differentperiodicities. In some cases, the information related to the first andsecond communication paths includes the first and second hop-counts.

The ID component 930 may determine that one or more nodes of thewireless communications system shared a cell ID with the relay networknode. In some examples, the ID component 930 may generate a second IDbased on the cell ID and the hop-count, where the second ID is used asthe generation sequence for generating the signal. In some cases, thesecond ID is generated based on a sibling count or a random value.

The QoS component 955 may determine the first QoS based on the firsthop-count, a network load of one or more network nodes associated withthe first communication path, a backhaul link capacity between the oneor more network nodes associated with the first communication path, or astability of the backhaul link between the one or more network nodesassociated with the first communication path, or a combination thereof.In some examples, the QoS component 955 may determine the second QoSbased on the second hop-count, the network load of one or more networknodes associated with the second communication path, a backhaul linkcapacity between the one or more network nodes associated with thesecond communication path, or a stability of the backhaul link betweenthe one or more network nodes associated with the second communicationpath, or a combination thereof.

The service component 960 may serve the child network node incommunication with the relay network node via the first communicationpath. In some examples, the service component 960 may serve the accessdevice in communication with the relay network node via the secondcommunication path. In some cases, the service component 960 maydetermine that new requests cannot be served via the first communicationpath.

FIG. 10 shows a diagram of a system 1000 including a device 1005 thatsupports hop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure. The device 1005 may be an example ofor include the components of device 705, device 805, or a UE 115 asdescribed herein. The device 1005 may include components forbi-directional voice and data communications including components fortransmitting and receiving communications, including a hop-count manager1010, a transceiver 1020, an antenna 1025, memory 1030, a processor1040, and an I/O controller 1050. These components may be in electroniccommunication via one or more buses (e.g., bus 1055).

When operating as a relay network node, the hop-count manager 1010 mayidentify a hop-count between the relay network node and a network nodein the wireless communications system, select a set of time-frequencyresources for transmission of a signal to a second network node in thewireless communications system, generate the signal based on ageneration sequence, where the signal conveys an indication of thehop-count and the indication of the hop-count is based on the set oftime-frequency resources or the generation sequence, and transmit thesignal over the set of time-frequency resources to the second networknode. Additionally or alternatively, the hop-count manager 1010 mayidentify a hop-count between the relay network node and a network nodein the wireless communications system, select, based on the hop count, aset of time-frequency resources for transmission of a signal to a secondnetwork node in the wireless communications system, and transmit thesignal over the set of time-frequency resources to the second networknode. Additionally or alternatively, the hop-count manager 1010 mayreceive a resource configuration from a control node, and select a setof time-frequency resources based on the resource configuration.

The hop-count manager 1010 may also identify a first communication pathfrom the relay network node to a first anchor network node of thewireless communications system, where the first communication path isassociated with a first hop-count and a first QoS, identify a secondcommunication path from the relay network node to a second anchornetwork node of the wireless communications system, where the secondcommunication path is associated with a second hop-count and a secondQoS, and indicate at least one of the first hop-count or the secondhop-count to a child network node or an access device in communicationwith the relay network node. Additionally or alternatively, thehop-count manager 1010 may identify a first communication path from therelay network node to a first anchor network node of the wirelesscommunications system, where the first communication path is associatedwith a first hop-count and a first QoS, identify a second communicationpath from the relay network node to a second anchor network node of thewireless communications system, where the second communication path isassociated with a second hop-count and a second QoS, and transmit asignal to a child network node or an access device in communication withthe relay network node, where the signal conveys an indication of atleast one of the first hop-count or the second hop-count.

When operating as a control node (e.g., a control node in an IABsystem), the hop-count manager 1010 may identify a hop-count between arelay network node and a network node in the wireless communicationssystem, select, based on the hop count, a set of time-frequencyresources for transmission of a signal to a second network node in thewireless communications system, and transmit a resource configurationassociated with the set of time-frequency resources to the secondnetwork node.

When operating as a control node (e.g., a control node in an IABsystem), the hop-count manager 1010 may determine a resourceconfiguration for a relay network node in the wireless communicationssystem, where the resource configuration is associated with a set oftime-frequency resources selectable, based on a hop-count between therelay network node and a network node in the wireless communicationssystem, for communication with the network node, and transmit theresource configuration to the relay network node. The hop-count manager1010 may identify the hop-count between the relay network node and thenetwork node, and select the set of time-frequency resources based onthe hop-count. The resource configuration may be associated withmultiple sets of time-frequency resources, and one or more of themultiple sets may be selectable by the relay network node based on thehop-count.

When operating as a child network node or an access device, thehop-count manager 1010 may also receive a signal from a relay networknode in the wireless communications system, determine a hop-countbetween the relay network node and a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system based on the received signal, and communicate withthe relay network node based on the hop-count.

When operating as a network node (e.g., a child network node or accessdevice, or a first network node in an IAB system), the hop-count manager1010 may receive a signal from a relay network node in the wirelesscommunications system, the signal indicative of a hop-count between therelay network node and a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system, determine the hop-count between the relay networknode and the second network node based on the received signal, andcommunicate with the relay network node or a child network node based onthe hop-count. The hop-count manager 1010 may receive a signal from arelay network node in the wireless communications system, the signalindicative of a hop-count between the relay network node and a secondnetwork node in the wireless communications system, determine a set oftime-frequency resources for communication with the relay network nodeor a child network node based on the hop-count, and communicate with therelay network node or the child network node based on the set oftime-frequency resources. Additionally or alternatively, the hop-countmanager 1010 may receive a signal from a relay network node in thewireless communications system, the signal indicative of a firsthop-count associated with a first communication path and a first QoS ora second hop-count associated with a second communication path and asecond QoS, and communicate with the relay network node or a childnetwork node via the first communication path or the secondcommunication path based on the signal.

Transceiver 1020 may communicate bi-directionally, via one or moreantennas, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, thetransceiver 1020 may represent a wireless transceiver and maycommunicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. Thetransceiver 1020 may also include a modem to modulate the packets andprovide the modulated packets to the antennas for transmission, and todemodulate packets received from the antennas.

In some cases, the wireless device may include a single antenna 1025.However, in some cases the device may have more than one antenna 1025,which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiplewireless transmissions.

The memory 1030 may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory(ROM), or a combination thereof. The memory 1030 may storecomputer-readable code 1035 including instructions that, when executedby a processor (e.g., the processor 1040) cause the device to performvarious functions described herein. In some cases, the memory 1030 maycontain, among other things, a basic I/O system (BIOS) which may controlbasic hardware or software operation such as the interaction withperipheral components or devices.

The processor 1040 may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., ageneral-purpose processor, a DSP, a central processing unit (CPU), amicrocontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, adiscrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardwarecomponent, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor1040 may be configured to operate a memory array using a memorycontroller. In other cases, a memory controller may be integrated intothe processor 1040. The processor 1040 may be configured to executecomputer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory1030) to cause the device 1005 to perform various functions (e.g.,functions or tasks supporting hop-count indication in wireless systems,functions or tasks supporting the selection of time-frequency resourcesin wireless systems based on hop-count, functions or tasks supportingdetermining a resource configuration in wireless systems).

The I/O controller 1050 may manage input and output signals for thedevice 1005. The I/O controller 1050 may also manage peripherals notintegrated into the device 1005. In some cases, the I/O controller 1050may represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral.In some cases, the I/O controller 1050 may utilize an operating systemsuch as iOS®, ANDROID®, MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®, OS/2®, UNIX®, LINUX®, oranother known operating system. In other cases, the I/O controller 1050may represent or interact with a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, atouchscreen, or a similar device. In some cases, the I/O controller 1050may be implemented as part of a processor. In some cases, a user mayinteract with the device 1005 via the I/O controller 1050 or viahardware components controlled by the I/O controller 1050.

The code 1035 may include instructions to implement aspects of thepresent disclosure, including instructions to support wirelesscommunications. The code 1035 may be stored in a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium such as system memory or other type of memory.In some cases, the code 1035 may not be directly executable by theprocessor 1040 but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled andexecuted) to perform functions described herein.

FIG. 11 shows a diagram of a system 1100 including a device 1105 thatsupports hop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure. The device 1105 may be an example ofor include the components of device 705, device 805, or a base station105 as described herein. The device 1105 may include components forbi-directional voice and data communications including components fortransmitting and receiving communications, including a hop-count manager1110, a network communications manager 1115, a transceiver 1120, anantenna 1125, memory 1130, a processor 1140, and an inter-stationcommunications manager 1145. These components may be in electroniccommunication via one or more buses (e.g., bus 1155).

When operating as a relay network node, the hop-count manager 1110 mayidentify a hop-count between the relay network node and a network nodein the wireless communications system, select a set of time-frequencyresources for transmission of a signal to a second network node in thewireless communications system, generate the signal based on ageneration sequence, where the signal conveys an indication of thehop-count and the indication of the hop-count is based on the set oftime-frequency resources or the generation sequence, and transmit thesignal over the set of time-frequency resources to the second networknode. Additionally or alternatively, the hop-count manager 1110 mayidentify a hop-count between the relay network node and a network nodein the wireless communications system, select, based on the hop count, aset of time-frequency resources for transmission of a signal to a secondnetwork node in the wireless communications system, and transmit thesignal over the set of time-frequency resources to the second networknode. Additionally or alternatively, the hop-count manager 1110 mayreceive a resource configuration from a control node, and select a setof time-frequency resources based on the resource configuration.

When operating as a control node (e.g., a control node in an IABsystem), the hop-count manager 1110 may identify a hop-count between arelay network node and a network node in the wireless communicationssystem, select, based on the hop count, a set of time-frequencyresources for transmission of a signal to a second network node in thewireless communications system, and transmit a resource configurationassociated with the set of time-frequency resources to the secondnetwork node.

When operating as a control node (e.g., a control node in an IABsystem), the hop-count manager 1110 may determine a resourceconfiguration for a relay network node in the wireless communicationssystem, where the resource configuration is associated with a set oftime-frequency resources selectable, based on a hop-count between therelay network node and a network node in the wireless communicationssystem, for communication with the network node, and transmit theresource configuration to the relay network node. The hop-count manager1110 may identify the hop-count between the relay network node and thenetwork node, and select the set of time-frequency resources based onthe hop-count. The resource configuration may be associated withmultiple sets of time-frequency resources, and one or more of themultiple sets may be selectable by the relay network node based on thehop-count.

When operating as a child network node or an access device, thehop-count manager 1110 may also receive a signal from a relay networknode in the wireless communications system, determine a hop-countbetween the relay network node and a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system based on the received signal, and communicate withthe relay network node based on the hop-count.

When operating as a relay network node, the hop-count manager 1110 mayalso identify a first communication path from the relay network node toa first anchor network node of the wireless communications system, wherethe first communication path is associated with a first hop-count and afirst QoS, identify a second communication path from the relay networknode to a second anchor network node of the wireless communicationssystem, where the second communication path is associated with a secondhop-count and a second QoS, and indicate at least one of the firsthop-count or the second hop-count to a child network node or an accessdevice in communication with the relay network node. Additionally oralternatively, the hop-count manager 1110 may identify a firstcommunication path from the relay network node to a first anchor networknode of the wireless communications system, where the firstcommunication path is associated with a first hop-count and a first QoS,identify a second communication path from the relay network node to asecond anchor network node of the wireless communications system, wherethe second communication path is associated with a second hop-count anda second QoS, and transmit a signal to a child network node or an accessdevice in communication with the relay network node, where the signalconveys an indication of at least one of the first hop-count or thesecond hop-count.

When operating as a network node (e.g., a child network node or accessdevice, or a first network node in an IAB system), the hop-count manager1110 may receive a signal from a relay network node in the wirelesscommunications system, the signal indicative of a hop-count between therelay network node and a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system, determine the hop-count between the relay networknode and the second network node based on the received signal, andcommunicate with the relay network node or a child network node based onthe hop-count. The hop-count manager 1110 may receive a signal from arelay network node in the wireless communications system, the signalindicative of a hop-count between the relay network node and a secondnetwork node in the wireless communications system, determine a set oftime-frequency resources for communication with the relay network nodeor a child network node based on the hop-count, and communicate with therelay network node or the child network node based on the set oftime-frequency resources. Additionally or alternatively, the hop-countmanager 1110 may receive a signal from a relay network node in thewireless communications system, the signal indicative of a firsthop-count associated with a first communication path and a first QoS ora second hop-count associated with a second communication path and asecond QoS, and communicate with the relay network node or a childnetwork node via the first communication path or the secondcommunication path based on the signal.

Network communications manager 1115 may manage communications with thecore network (e.g., via one or more wired backhaul links). For example,the network communications manager 1115 may manage the transfer of datacommunications for client devices, such as one or more UEs 115.

Transceiver 1120 may communicate bi-directionally, via one or moreantennas, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, thetransceiver 1120 may represent a wireless transceiver and maycommunicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. Thetransceiver 1120 may also include a modem to modulate the packets andprovide the modulated packets to the antennas for transmission, and todemodulate packets received from the antennas.

In some cases, the wireless device may include a single antenna 1125.However, in some cases the device may have more than one antenna 1125,which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiplewireless transmissions.

The memory 1130 may include RAM, ROM, or a combination thereof. Thememory 1130 may store computer-readable code 1135 including instructionsthat, when executed by a processor (e.g., the processor 1140) cause thedevice to perform various functions described herein. In some cases, thememory 1130 may contain, among other things, a BIOS which may controlbasic hardware or software operation such as the interaction withperipheral components or devices.

The processor 1140 may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., ageneral-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, anFPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logiccomponent, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof).In some cases, the processor 1140 may be configured to operate a memoryarray using a memory controller. In other cases, a memory controller maybe integrated into the processor 1140. The processor 1140 may beconfigured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory(e.g., the memory 1130) to cause the device 1105 to perform variousfunctions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting hop-count indication inwireless systems, functions or tasks supporting the selection oftime-frequency resources in wireless systems based on hop-count,functions or tasks supporting determining a resource configuration inwireless systems).

Inter-station communications manager 1145 may manage communications withother base station 105, and may include a controller or scheduler forcontrolling communications with UEs 115 in cooperation with other basestations 105. For example, the inter-station communications manager 1145may coordinate scheduling for transmissions to UEs 115 for variousinterference mitigation techniques such as beamforming or jointtransmission. In some examples, inter-station communications manager1145 may provide an X2 interface within an LTE/LTE-A wirelesscommunication network technology to provide communication between basestations 105.

The code 1135 may include instructions to implement aspects of thepresent disclosure, including instructions to support wirelesscommunications. The code 1135 may be stored in a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium such as system memory or other type of memory.In some cases, the code 1135 may not be directly executable by theprocessor 1140 but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled andexecuted) to perform functions described herein.

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1200 that supportshop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1200 may be implementedby a relay network node (e.g., a UE 115 or base station 105) or itscomponents as described herein. For example, the operations of method1200 may be performed by a hop-count manager as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a relay network node mayexecute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of therelay network node to perform the functions described herein.Additionally or alternatively, a relay network node may perform aspectsof the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At 1205, the relay network node may identify a hop-count between therelay network node and a network node in the wireless communicationssystem. The operations of 1205 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1205may be performed by a hop-count identifier as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1210, the relay network node may select a set of time-frequencyresources for transmission of a signal to a second network node in thewireless communications system. The relay network node may select theset of time-frequency resources, for example, based on the hop-count.The operations of 1210 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1210may be performed by a resource manager as described with reference toFIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1215, the relay network node may generate the signal based on ageneration sequence, where the signal conveys an indication of thehop-count and the indication of the hop-count is based on the set oftime-frequency resources or the generation sequence. The operations of1215 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 1215 may be performed by a signalgenerator as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1220, the relay network node may transmit the signal over the set oftime-frequency resources to the second network node. The operations of1220 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 1220 may be performed by atransmission component as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through11.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1300 that supportshop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1300 may be implementedby a relay network node (e.g., a UE 115 or base station 105) or itscomponents as described herein. For example, the operations of method1300 may be performed by a hop-count manager as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a relay network node mayexecute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of therelay network node to perform the functions described herein.Additionally or alternatively, a relay network node may perform aspectsof the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At 1305, the relay network node may identify a hop-count between therelay network node and a network node in the wireless communicationssystem. The operations of 1305 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1305may be performed by a hop-count identifier as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1310, the relay network node may select a set of time-frequencyresources for transmission of a signal to a second network node in thewireless communications system. The relay network node may select theset of time-frequency resources, for example, based on the hop-count.The operations of 1310 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1310may be performed by a resource manager as described with reference toFIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1315, the relay network node may generate a CSI-RS, a TRS, an SRS, acontrol channel, a data channel, or a DMRS associated with the controlchannel or the data channel based on the set of time-frequencyresources, where the set of time-frequency resources conveys theindication of the hop-count. The operations of 1315 may be performedaccording to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects ofthe operations of 1315 may be performed by a signal generator asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1320, the relay network node may transmit the signal generated at1315 over the set of time-frequency resources to the second networknode. The operations of 1320 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1320may be performed by a transmission component as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11.

FIG. 14 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1400 that supportshop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1400 may be implementedby a relay network node (e.g., a UE 115 or base station 105) or itscomponents as described herein. For example, the operations of method1400 may be performed by a hop-count manager as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a relay network node mayexecute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of therelay network node to perform the functions described herein.Additionally or alternatively, a relay network node may perform aspectsof the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At 1405, the relay network node may identify a hop-count between therelay network node and a network node in the wireless communicationssystem. The operations of 1405 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1405may be performed by a hop-count identifier as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1410, the relay network node may select a set of time-frequencyresources for transmission of a signal to a second network node in thewireless communications system. The relay network node may select theset of time-frequency resources, for example, based on the hop-count.The operations of 1410 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1410may be performed by a resource manager as described with reference toFIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1415, the relay network node may generate a DMRS sequence associatedwith a control channel or a data channel, where the DMRS sequenceconveys the indication of the hop-count. The operations of 1415 may beperformed according to the methods described herein. In some examples,aspects of the operations of 1415 may be performed by a signal generatoras described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1420, the relay network node may transmit the DMRS sequence over theset of time-frequency resources to the second network node. Theoperations of 1420 may be performed according to the methods describedherein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1420 may beperformed by a transmission component as described with reference toFIGS. 7 through 11.

FIG. 15 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1500 that supportshop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1500 may be implementedby a relay network node (e.g., a UE 115 or base station 105) or itscomponents as described herein. For example, the operations of method1500 may be performed by a hop-count manager as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a relay network node mayexecute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of therelay network node to perform the functions described herein.Additionally or alternatively, a relay network node may perform aspectsof the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At 1505, the relay network node may identify a hop-count between therelay network node and a network node in the wireless communicationssystem. The operations of 1505 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1505may be performed by a hop-count identifier as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1510, the relay network node may select a set of time-frequencyresources for transmission of a signal to a second network node in thewireless communications system. The relay network node may select theset of time-frequency resources, for example, based on the hop-count.The operations of 1510 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1510may be performed by a resource manager as described with reference toFIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1515, the relay network node may generate a CSI-RS, a TRS, an SRS, acontrol channel, or a data channel based on the generation sequence,where the generation sequence conveys the indication of the hop-count.The operations of 1515 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1515may be performed by a signal generator as described with reference toFIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1520, the relay network node may transmit the signal generated at1515 over the set of time-frequency resources to the second networknode. The operations of 1520 may be performed according to the methodsdescribed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1520may be performed by a transmission component as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11.

FIG. 16 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1600 that supportshop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1600 may be implementedby child network node (e.g., a base station 105) or an access device(e.g., a UE 115) or their components as described herein. For example,the operations of method 1600 may be performed by a hop-count manager asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, achild network node or access device may execute a set of instructions tocontrol the functional elements of the child network node or accessdevice to perform the functions described herein. Additionally oralternatively, a child network node or access device may perform aspectsof the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At 1605, the child network node or access device may receive a signalfrom a relay network node in the wireless communications system. Thesignal may be indicative of a hop-count (e.g., a hop-count between therelay network node and a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system). The operations of 1605 may be performedaccording to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects ofthe operations of 1605 may be performed by a reception component asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1610, the child network node or access device may determine ahop-count between the relay network node and a second network node inthe wireless communications system based on the received signal. Theoperations of 1610 may be performed according to the methods describedherein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1610 may beperformed by a hop-count identifier as described with reference to FIGS.7 through 11.

At 1615, the child network node or access device may communicate withthe relay network node or another child network node based on thehop-count. The operations of 1615 may be performed according to themethods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1615 may be performed by a communication component as described withreference to FIGS. 7 through 11.

FIG. 17 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1700 that supportshop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1700 may be implementedby a relay network node (e.g., a UE 115 or base station 105) or itscomponents as described herein. For example, the operations of method1700 may be performed by a hop-count manager as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a relay network node mayexecute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of therelay network node to perform the functions described herein.Additionally or alternatively, a relay network node may perform aspectsof the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At 1705, the relay network node may receive, over a set oftime-frequency resources, at least one of a CSI-RS, a TRS, an SRS, acontrol channel, a data channel, or a DMRS associated with the controlchannel or the data channel. The operations of 1705 may be performedaccording to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects ofthe operations of 1705 may be performed by a reception component asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1710, the relay network node may determine a hop-count between therelay network node and a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system based on the received signal and the set oftime-frequency resources. The operations of 1710 may be performedaccording to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects ofthe operations of 1710 may be performed by a hop-count identifier asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1715, the relay network node may communicate with the relay networknode or a child network node based on the hop-count. The operations of1715 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 1715 may be performed by acommunication component as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through11.

FIG. 18 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1800 that supportshop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1800 may be implementedby a relay network node (e.g., a UE 115 or base station 105) or itscomponents as described herein. For example, the operations of method1800 may be performed by a hop-count manager as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a relay network node mayexecute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of therelay network node to perform the functions described herein.Additionally or alternatively, a relay network node may perform aspectsof the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At 1805, the relay network node may receive a DMRS sequence associatedwith a control channel or a data channel. The operations of 1805 may beperformed according to the methods described herein. In some examples,aspects of the operations of 1805 may be performed by a receptioncomponent as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1810, the relay network node may determine a hop-count between therelay network node and a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system based on the received DMRS sequence. Theoperations of 1810 may be performed according to the methods describedherein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1810 may beperformed by a hop-count identifier as described with reference to FIGS.7 through 11.

At 1815, the relay network node may communicate with the relay networknode or a child network node based on the hop-count. The operations of1815 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 1815 may be performed by acommunication component as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through11.

FIG. 19 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1900 that supportshop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 1900 may be implementedby a relay network node (e.g., a UE 115 or base station 105) or itscomponents as described herein. For example, the operations of method1900 may be performed by a hop-count manager as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a relay network node mayexecute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of therelay network node to perform the functions described herein.Additionally or alternatively, a relay network node may perform aspectsof the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At 1905, the relay network node may receive at least one of a CSI-RS, aTRS, an SRS, a control channel, or a data channel associated with ageneration sequence. The operations of 1905 may be performed accordingto the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of theoperations of 1905 may be performed by a reception component asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1910, the relay network node may determine a hop-count between therelay network node and a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system based on the generation sequence. The operationsof 1910 may be performed according to the methods described herein. Insome examples, aspects of the operations of 1910 may be performed by ahop-count identifier as described with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11.

At 1915, the relay network node may communicate with the relay networknode based on the hop-count. The operations of 1915 may be performedaccording to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects ofthe operations of 1915 may be performed by a communication component asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11.

FIG. 20 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 2000 that supportshop-count indication in wireless systems in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure. The operations of method 2000 may be implementedby a relay network node (e.g., UE 115 or base station 105) or itscomponents as described herein. For example, the operations of method2000 may be performed by a hop-count manager as described with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 11. In some examples, a relay network node mayexecute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of therelay network node to perform the functions described herein.Additionally or alternatively, a relay network node may perform aspectsof the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At 2005, the relay network node may identify a first communication pathfrom the relay network node to a first anchor network node of thewireless communications system, where the first communication path isassociated with a first hop-count and a first QoS. The operations of2005 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 2005 may be performed by acommunication path manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7through 11.

At 2010, the relay network node may identify a second communication pathfrom the relay network node to a second anchor network node of thewireless communications system, where the second communication path isassociated with a second hop-count and a second QoS. The operations of2010 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 2010 may be performed by acommunication path manager as described with reference to FIGS. 7through 11.

At 2015, the relay network node may indicate at least one of the firsthop-count or the second hop-count to a child network node or an accessdevice in communication with the relay network node. At 2015, the relaynetwork node may transmit a signal to a child network node or an accessdevice in communication with the relay network node, where the signalconveys an indication of at least one of the first hop-count or thesecond hop-count. The operations of 2015 may be performed according tothe methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of theoperations of 2015 may be performed by an indication component asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 11.

It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possibleimplementations, and that the operations and the steps may be rearrangedor otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible.Further, aspects from two or more of the methods may be combined.

Techniques described herein may be used for various wirelesscommunications systems such as code division multiple access (CDMA),time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access(FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), singlecarrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA), and other systems.A CDMA system may implement a radio technology such as CDMA2000,Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), etc. CDMA2000 covers IS-2000,IS-95, and IS-856 standards. IS-2000 Releases may be commonly referredto as CDMA2000 1×, 1×, etc. IS-856 (TIA-856) is commonly referred to asCDMA2000 1×EV-DO, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), etc. UTRA includesWideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. A TDMA system mayimplement a radio technology such as Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM).

An OFDMA system may implement a radio technology such as Ultra MobileBroadband (UMB), Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE802.20, Flash-OFDM, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS). LTE, LTE-A, and LTE-A Pro are releasesof UMTS that use E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR,and GSM are described in documents from the organization named “3rdGeneration Partnership Project” (3GPP). CDMA2000 and UMB are describedin documents from an organization named “3rd Generation PartnershipProject 2” (3GPP2). The techniques described herein may be used for thesystems and radio technologies mentioned above as well as other systemsand radio technologies. While aspects of an LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NRsystem may be described for purposes of example, and LTE, LTE-A, LTE-APro, or NR terminology may be used in much of the description, thetechniques described herein are applicable beyond LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro,or NR applications.

A macro cell generally covers a relatively large geographic area (e.g.,several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs115 with service subscriptions with the network provider. A small cellmay be associated with a lower-powered base station 105, as comparedwith a macro cell, and a small cell may operate in the same or different(e.g., licensed, unlicensed, etc.) frequency bands as macro cells. Smallcells may include pico cells, femto cells, and micro cells according tovarious examples. A pico cell, for example, may cover a small geographicarea and may allow unrestricted access by UEs 115 with servicesubscriptions with the network provider. A femto cell may also cover asmall geographic area (e.g., a home) and may provide restricted accessby UEs 115 having an association with the femto cell (e.g., UEs 115 in aclosed subscriber group (CSG), UEs 115 for users in the home, and thelike). An eNB for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro eNB. An eNBfor a small cell may be referred to as a small cell eNB, a pico eNB, afemto eNB, or a home eNB. An eNB may support one or multiple (e.g., two,three, four, and the like) cells, and may also support communicationsusing one or multiple component carriers.

The wireless communications system 100 or systems described herein maysupport synchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronousoperation, the base stations 105 may have similar frame timing, andtransmissions from different base stations 105 may be approximatelyaligned in time. For asynchronous operation, the base stations 105 mayhave different frame timing, and transmissions from different basestations 105 may not be aligned in time. The techniques described hereinmay be used for either synchronous or asynchronous operations.

Information and signals described herein may be represented using any ofa variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data,instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chipsthat may be referenced throughout the above description may berepresented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magneticfields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combinationthereof.

The various illustrative blocks and modules described in connection withthe disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with ageneral-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmablelogic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor,but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or moremicroprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration).

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, softwareexecuted by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may bestored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are withinthe scope of the disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to thenature of software, functions described herein can be implemented usingsoftware executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, orcombinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may alsobe physically located at various positions, including being distributedsuch that portions of functions are implemented at different physicallocations.

Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storagemedia and communication media including any medium that facilitatestransfer of a computer program from one place to another. Anon-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way ofexample, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media mayinclude RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flashmemory, compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magneticdisk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othernon-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired programcode means in the form of instructions or data structures and that canbe accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or ageneral-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection isproperly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the softwareis transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using acoaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line(DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave,then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, orwireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave areincluded in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein,include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD),floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce datamagnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above are also included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items(e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of” or“one or more of”) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, alist of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BCor ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “basedon” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions.For example, an exemplary step that is described as “based on conditionA” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, asused herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manneras the phrase “based at least in part on.”

In the appended figures, similar components or features may have thesame reference label. Further, various components of the same type maybe distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If just the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label, or othersubsequent reference label.

The description set forth herein, in connection with the appendeddrawings, describes example configurations and does not represent allthe examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of theclaims. The term “exemplary” used herein means “serving as an example,instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous overother examples.” The detailed description includes specific details forthe purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques.These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specificdetails. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shownin block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of thedescribed examples.

The description herein is provided to enable a person skilled in the artto make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosurewill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the genericprinciples defined herein may be applied to other variations withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is notlimited to the examples and designs described herein, but is to beaccorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for wireless communications at a relaynetwork node in a wireless communications system, comprising:identifying a hop-count between the relay network node and a networknode in the wireless communications system; selecting, based at least inpart on the hop count, a set of time-frequency resources fortransmission of a signal to a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system; and transmitting the signal over the set oftime-frequency resources to the second network node.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: generating a channel state informationreference signal (CSI-RS), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a soundingreference signal (SRS), a control channel, a data channel, or ademodulation reference signal (DMRS) associated with the control channelor the data channel based at least in part on the set of time-frequencyresources, wherein the set of time-frequency resources conveys theindication of the hop-count.
 3. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: generating a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sequenceassociated with a control channel or a data channel, wherein the DMRSsequence conveys an indication of the hop-count.
 4. The method of claim1, further comprising: generating a channel state information referencesignal (CSI-RS), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a sounding referencesignal (SRS), a control channel, or a data channel based at least inpart on a generation sequence, wherein the generation sequence conveysan indication of the hop-count.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein thegeneration sequence is a scrambling sequence or a base sequence.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: determining that one or morenodes of the wireless communications system shared a cell identifier(ID) with the relay network node; and generating a second ID based atleast in part on the cell ID and the hop-count, wherein the second ID isused as a generation sequence for generating the signal.
 7. The methodof claim 6, wherein the second ID is generated based at least in part ona sibling count or a random value.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: determining, based at least in part on the hop-count, aresource pattern or a slot structure for the relay network node,downlink resources for the relay network node, uplink resources for therelay network node, a parent network node in communication with therelay network node, a child network node in communication with the relaynetwork node, an access device in communication with the relay networknode, or any combination thereof, wherein the slot structure comprisesan indication of one or more downlink symbols, uplink symbols, andflexible symbols within a slot.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein theresource pattern or the slot structure is determined based at least inpart on a mapping rule.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the resourcepattern or the slot structure is associated with a semi-static resourceallocation.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmittinga second signal different from the signal based at least in part on thehop-count.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second signalcomprises a system information block (SIB).
 13. The method of claim 1,further comprising: receiving a resource configuration from a controlnode; and selecting the set of time-frequency resources based at leastin part on the resource configuration.
 14. A method for wirelesscommunications at a first network node in a wireless communicationssystem, comprising: receiving a signal from a relay network node in thewireless communications system, the signal indicative of a hop-countbetween the relay network node and a second network node in the wirelesscommunications system; determining a set of time-frequency resources forcommunication with the relay network node or a child network node basedat least in part on the hop-count; and communicating with the relaynetwork node or the child network node based at least in part on the setof time-frequency resources.
 15. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: receiving, over the set of time-frequency resources, atleast one of a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), atracking reference signal (TRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), acontrol channel, a data channel, or a demodulation reference signal(DMRS) associated with the control channel or the data channel; andcommunicating with the relay network node or the child network nodebased at least in part on one or more of the CSI-RS, the TRS, the SRS,the control channel, the data channel, or the DMRS.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the set of time-frequency resources conveys anindication of the hop-count.
 17. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: receiving a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sequenceassociated with a control channel or a data channel; and communicatingwith the relay network node or the child network node based at least inpart on the DMRS sequence.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the DMRSsequence conveys an indication of the hop-count.
 19. The method of claim14, further comprising: receiving at least one of a channel stateinformation reference signal (CSI-RS), a tracking reference signal(TRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a control channel, or a datachannel associated with a generation sequence; and communicating withthe relay network node or the child network node based at least in parton the generation sequence.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein: thegeneration sequence comprises a scrambling sequence or a base sequence;and the generation sequence conveys an indication of the hop-count. 21.The method of claim 14, further comprising: determining a resourcepattern or a slot structure for communication with the relay networknode based at least in part on the hop-count, wherein the resourcepattern or the slot structure is determined based at least in part on amapping rule.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:communicating with the relay network node based at least in part on theresource pattern, the slot structure, or a combination thereof.
 23. Themethod of claim 14, wherein: the signal is a broadcast signal; and theset of time-frequency resources is associated with the signal or aperiodicity of the signal.
 24. The method of claim 14, wherein receivingthe signal comprises: receiving a common channel carrying informationrelated to multiple hop-counts; and communicating with the relay networknode or the child network node based at least in part on the commonchannel.
 25. A method for wireless communications at a control node in awireless communications system, comprising: determining a resourceconfiguration for a relay network node in the wireless communicationssystem, wherein the resource configuration is associated with a set oftime-frequency resources selectable, based at least in part on ahop-count between the relay network node and a network node in thewireless communications system, for communication with the network node;and transmitting the resource configuration to the relay network node.26. The method of claim 25, further comprising: identifying thehop-count between the relay network node and the network node; andselecting the set of time-frequency resources based at least in part onthe hop-count.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherein: the resourceconfiguration is associated with multiple sets of time-frequencyresources, and.
 28. An apparatus for wireless communications at a relaynetwork node in a wireless communications system, comprising: aprocessor, memory in electronic communication with the processor; andinstructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor tocause the apparatus to: identify a hop-count between the relay networknode and a network node in the wireless communications system; select,based at least in part on the hop count, a set of time-frequencyresources for transmission of a signal to a second network node in thewireless communications system; and transmit the signal over the set oftime-frequency resources to the second network node.
 29. The apparatusof claim 28, wherein the instructions are further executable by theprocessor to cause the apparatus to: generate a channel stateinformation reference signal (CSI-RS), a tracking reference signal(TRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a control channel, a datachannel, or a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) associated with thecontrol channel or the data channel based at least in part on the set oftime-frequency resources, wherein the set of time-frequency resourcesconveys the indication of the hop-count.
 30. The apparatus of claim 28,wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor tocause the apparatus to: generate a demodulation reference signal (DMRS)sequence associated with a control channel or a data channel, whereinthe DMRS sequence conveys the indication of the hop-count.